Sinner, Djokovic, Alcaraz confirmed for Melbourne exhibition a week before Australian Open begins
The Australian Open is just around the corner, but tennis fans will get a preview of the top players before the tournament starts.
Defending champion Jannik Sinner, 10-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic, and Wimbledon and French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz are among the big names set to play in exhibition matches on Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, the week before the Grand Slam begins.
The Australian Open has made a name for itself by turning the tournament into a three-week event, with plenty of action before the official matches start, offering the Melbourne crowd lots of excitement.
Organisers have now revealed details for the 2025 AO Fan Week, which includes affordable tickets for exhibition matches that also raise money for charity.
Some of the events include:
- Red Bull Bassline, a unique one-night tie-break tennis event with six of the world’s best players.
- A Night With Novak, which will feature Djokovic and other pros in an entertaining event with a few surprises.
- A mixed doubles charity match, with Aryna Sabalenka, Alexander Zverev, and Coco Gauff already signed up.
A Night With Novak will take place on Thursday, January 7, and is set to be an exciting evening with the 24-time Grand Slam champion. Djokovic took part in wheelchair tennis at this event last year, and this year’s event is expected to feature more tennis stars, plus some special guests from the world of entertainment.
These exhibition matches will also give the big contenders some important practice ahead of the Australian Open, allowing them to adjust to the conditions on the court where the main tournament will take place.
World No. 1 Sinner will face Australia’s Alexei Popyrin on Tuesday, January 5, and will play again on Friday night against Stefanos Tsitsipas. Alcaraz will take on Australian favourite Alex de Minaur on Wednesday night, and he’ll play Popyrin on the Friday before the tournament starts.
There will also be women’s matches, with Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen and Elina Svitolina going head-to-head on Wednesday evening in what promises to be an exciting contest.
These warm-up events look set to be the only matches for Sinner and Alcaraz before the Australian Open, and 17-time Grand Slam champion Mark Woodforde has expressed some concerns about Alcaraz’s preparations for the first Grand Slam of the year.
