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The Australian Open returns after a wet opening day in Melbourne and the second day is a blockbuster.

Defending men’s champion Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic are all playing, with Nick Kyrgios leading Australia’s hopes.

They are joined by Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Ons Jabeur, Danielle Collins and Naomi Osaka in a star-studded play.

Here you can find out what you can see on the three largest tournament grounds and around the grounds.

Rod Laver Arena

Start time: 7:30 p.m. ET, 4:30 p.m. PT, January 11th
TV: ESPN, Tennis Channel
Streaming: ESPN+

Coco Gauff (3) against Sofia Kenin

Gauff comes to Melbourne in version 3.0, having revamped her serve and forehand following a 2024 that did not live up to her expectations. She has an 18-2 record since her exit from the US Open and is in top form, but Sofia Kenin has often upset her in the first round of Grand Slams. It was Kenin’s victory over Gauff at Wimbledon in 2023 that led her to hire Brad Gilbert, with whom she won the US Open; Kenin is an Australian Open winner herself and triumphed in 2020.

Jannik Sinner (1) against Nicolas Jarry

Sinner is the defending champion, the highest-ranked player in the world and seemingly invulnerable on hard courts against anyone not named Carlos Alcaraz. The severity of Jarry’s play could cause him problems, and the severity of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s pending appeal in his doping case is an unknown factor, but he will expect to get through this.

Novak Djokovic (7) vs. Nishesh Basavareddy (WC)

Djokovic has won the Australian Open more than any other major. He begins his fight for his 11th title in Australia and his 25th Grand Slam title overall against Basavareddy, who idolizes Djokovic and whose backhand is more than a little reminiscent of his opponent. A first-round loss for Djokovic in Melbourne is essentially unthinkable, but he is no longer the inevitable force he once was.

Naomi Osaka vs. Caroline Garcia

Pretty much the hardest unseeded draw possible in the women’s draw. Osaka and Garcia are tied 1-1 in Melbourne, with Garcia knocking out Osaka in the first round last year. Then Osaka returned from giving birth to her first child, with Garcia seeded; Now both players are recovering, although Garcia ended her season early due to injury and burnout.

Margaret Court Arena

Start time: 7:30 p.m. ET, 4:30 p.m. PT, January 11th
TV: ESPN, Tennis Channel
Streaming: ESPN+

Ajla Tomljanovic (WC) versus Ashlyn Krueger

Australian supremacy begins with Tomljanovic opening Margaret Court Arena. Her home Grand Slam is historically her worst as she never advanced past the second round, but the home crowd will be happy to see her play Krueger. The American defeated two top 20 players in the Adelaide warm-up tournament and will be confident of spoiling the party.

Jordan Thompson (27) vs. Dominik Koepfer (Q)

Thompson started the 2024 Australian Open ranked world No. 47; This time he starts 20 places better and is seeded at his home major for the first time. Koepfer was the top seed in qualifying and is not the player with a (Q) next to his name that Thompson would have picked, but he is hoping for a good run.

Alexander Shevchenko vs. Carlos Alcaraz (3)

Alcaraz will become the youngest male player to complete a career Grand Slam if he wins the title in Australia – and he would do so with an almost brand-new service record. He beat Shevchenko 6-2, 6-1 in their only previous meeting and the Kazakh will have to hope the No. 3 seed has a bad day.

Daria Snigur (Q) vs. Danielle Collins (11)

Snigur pulled off a Grand Slam upset with her first-ever WTA Tour victory, beating No. 7 seed Simona Halep in the first round of the 2022 US Open. She hasn’t advanced at a Grand Slam since then, recording just a couple of first-round wins. Collins, who postponed her retirement from tennis after learning her endometriosis would delay starting a family, had her best ever run at a Grand Slam in Melbourne, reaching the final in 2022 before losing to Ash Barty .

John Cain Arena

Start time: 7:30 p.m. ET, 4:30 p.m. PT, January 11th
TV: ESPN, Tennis Channel
Streaming: ESPN+

Stefanos Tsitsipas (11) against Alex Michelsen

Tsitsipas loves the atmosphere and the Greek support in Melbourne, but his form in 2024 makes this game seem like a surprise. Michelsen is a dangerous player on hard courts and Tsitsipas will have to be vigilant not to disappoint his many fans here.

Katerina Siniakova vs. Iga Swiatek (2)

Swiatek, who reached the semi-finals in 2022 but were eliminated in the fourth round three times, looked threatening at times even in the loss to Gauff at the United Cup in Sydney and has an inviting path to the final. Siniakova, who has won everything there is to win in doubles, is not the same strength in singles.

Maya Joint (WC) vs. Jessica Pegula (7)

In front of a home crowd and given her form, Joint looks like a good chance to at least cause trouble for Pegula, who reached her first Grand Slam final at the US Open last year. After a semi-final in Adelaide, the Australian, who played college tennis in America before turning professional, will have little to lose and will count on the full support of most of the stadium.

Jacob Fearnley vs Nick Kyrgios

Kyrgios may be a lightning rod throughout tennis, but he is the show in Australia, particularly in John Cain, the most partisan of the Australian Open’s biggest arenas. However, Fearnley is a poor draw for the home team as he had the best season of his life in 2024 and put Djokovic under serious pressure at Wimbledon. Which version of Kyrgios is shown? Wait and see.

Around the site

Start time: 7:30 p.m. ET, 4:30 p.m. PT, January 11th
TV: ESPN, Tennis Channel
Streaming: ESPN+

Belinda Bencic vs. Jelena Ostapenko (12)

Second in the 1573 Arena, Bencic has already reached an impressive level in her comeback after the birth of her first child. Ostapenko could blow her away, but she could also have one of her cold days. Any surprise would be a clear win for Bencic.

Magdalena Frech (23) vs. Polina Kudermetova

Seeded 13th, Kudermetova took a set against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the Brisbane final after a remarkable run. Then she managed to qualify for her first Grand Slam main draw. A dangerous draw for Frech, seeded at number 23.

Adrian Mannarino vs. Karen Khachanov (19)

Mannarino’s five-set win over Ben Shelton was one of the highlights of the 2024 Australian Open and Khachanov will be wary of the quick-spinning, subtle Frenchman even if his recent form has been on the decline.

Required reading

(Top Photos – Carlos Alcaraz and Coco Gauff: Getty Images)