The Australian Open 2024: Key Information to Keep in Mind

As the new year begins, the tennis season starts with the Australian Open, the first major of the year. This overview covers the updated prize fund, tournament dates, and the key contenders.

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History of the Australian Open:

The tournament’s roots trace back to 1905 when it debuted in Melbourne as the Australasian Championship, featuring only 17 participants. By 1927, it evolved into the Australian Championship and, in 1969, transitioned to an open format, adopting its current name.

Notably, during the late 1970s, top players sometimes chose to skip the Australian Open due to the substantial earnings allowing them to prioritize holiday festivities. Renowned figures like Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Björn Borg, and Jimmy Connors were among those who occasionally missed the tournament during this period.

Consequently, the winners of the Australian Open during those years often included players who might not have been favored in other Grand Slam events. To address this, the tournament was shifted from December to January in 1987. Additionally, since 1988, the playing surface has been one of the hard court modifications.

The Australian Open 2024, the 112th edition in its history, is scheduled to take place at the Melbourne Park sports complex in Melbourne, Australia. The main draws of the tournament are set to unfold from January 14 to 28, marking the traditional commencement of the Grand Slam series in the calendar year.

Melbourne Park boasts three central courts: Hisense Arena, Margaret Court Arena, and Rod Laver Arena. Among them, Rod Laver Arena holds the distinction of being the primary court for the tournament, accommodating 15,000 spectators and equipped with a retractable roof to facilitate play in adverse weather conditions such as rain or intense heat.

For the Australian Open 2024, the prize money and ranking points distribution are as follows:

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Prize Money (USD):

• Qualification:
  • First Round: $21,000
  • Second Round: $30,000
  • Third Round: $43,700
• Main Draw:
  • First Round: $80,700
  • Second Round: $121,000
  • Third Round: $171,300
  • Fourth Round: $252,000
  • Quarterfinal: $403,000
  • Semifinal: $664,600
  • Final: $1,158,000
  • Winner: $2,115,000

Ranking Points:

• Qualification:
  • First round: 0 points
  • Second round: 8 points
  • Third round: 16 points
  • Qualification victory: 30 points
• Main Draw:
  • First round: 10 points
  • Second round: 50 points
  • Third round: 100 points
  • Fourth round: 200 points
  • Quarterfinals: 400 points
  • Semifinals: 800 points
  • Final: 1,300 points
  • Winner of the tournament: 2,000 points

The prize fund for the Australian Open in 2024 has seen a 13% increase, reaching just over $58 million USD. Notably, the prize money is equal for both men and women, and the total prize money has risen by 162% over the last decade.

Regarding the favorites, bookmakers consider the world’s top-ranked player and defending champion, Novak Djokovic, as the clear favorite among men. Following him are Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, the recent winner of the Davis Cup as part of the Italian team. Unfortunately, legendary player Rafael Nadal will not participate in this year’s Australian Open due to a muscle injury.

Men’s Favorites:

• Novak Djokovic — 2.12
• Carlos Alcaraz — 4.35
• Jannik Sinner — 7.6
• Daniil Medvedev — 10.2
• Holger Rune — 23
• Alexander Zverev — 26
• Stefanos Tsitsipas — 34
• Grigor Dimitrov — 41

Women’s Favorites:

• Iga Swiatek — 2.00
• Elena Rybakina — (odds not provided)
• Cori Gauff — (odds not provided)
• Aryna Sabalenka — (odds not provided)

In the men’s category, Novak Djokovic leads as the favorite with odds of 2.12, followed by Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Daniil Medvedev. Holger Rune, Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Grigor Dimitrov are also considered contenders with varying odds.

For the women, Iga Swiatek holds the status of the favorite with odds at 2.00. Elena Rybakina, Cori Gauff, and last year’s champion Aryna Sabalenka are also seen as strong contenders, although specific odds for them are not provided in the given information.

Women’s Favorites:

• Iga Swiatek — 3.44
• Elena Rybakina — 6.35
• Aryna Sabalenka — 6.4
• Cori Gauff — 9.2
• Jessica Pegula — 17
• Naomi Osaka — 18
• Ons Jabeur — 19
• Belinda Bencic and Mirra Andreeva — 23

In the women’s category, the favorites include Iga Swiatek with odds at 3.44, followed by Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka, and Cori Gauff. Jessica Pegula, Naomi Osaka, and Ons Jabeur are also prominent contenders, while Belinda Bencic and Mirra Andreeva share odds at 23.