Australian Open: When, where and how can I follow Australian summer of tennis

The sun is shining. The temperature approaching unbearable levels. It must mean that the Australian Open is just around the corner.

The first major of the tennis season is always a favourite among fans and players alike.

But neither the players or fans arrive at Melbourne Park cold.

Prior to the Australian Open getting underway on January 12 there are no fewer than five tournaments taking place across the country.

ABC Sport will be live blogging all the action as it happens from January 27 right through to the end of the Australian Open on January 26, providing a month of in depth coverage from courts across the nation.

But what are these events? Where are they? And who is playing in them?

It should be noted that all playing lists are subject to change, given how frequently players pull out of lead-up tournaments to be in peak condition for the Australian Open.

United Cup

Germany won the United Cup last year, beating Poland in the final. (Getty Images: Brendon Thorne)

This is the third edition of the team-based event, and will take place at Perth Arena from December 27 to January 1 and Sydney's Ken Rosewall Arena from December 29 to January 5, including three of the four quarterfinals, both semifinals and final.

Some 18 countries featuring men and women players will compete in six, three-team groups, nine in each city.

Australia is in Group F, based in Sydney, alongside Great Britain and Argentina.

The nomadic, colourful past of the Australian Open The Australian Open might call Melbourne Park home now, but nearly every state capital has hosted the Asia Pacific's grand slam at some stage, as well as two cities in New Zealand. But there's not been any venue more unusual than Perth Zoo.

Defending champions Germany are in Perth-based Group E, where they will meet Brazil and China.

The teams will play a men's and women's best-of-three-sets singles match, followed by a mixed doubles contest.

The winner of each group will play in the quarterfinals, along with the best runner up in each city.

Six of the world's top 10 women's players are set to take part, including number two Iga Świątek, former Australian Open finalist Elena Rybakina (6) and American Coco Gauff (3).

The men's field is also strong, featuring Germany's world number two Alexander Zverev, American number four Taylor Fritz and sixth-ranked Casper Ruud.

Australia's charge will be spearheaded by world number nine Alex de Minaur, with Omar Jasika (179) the other men's singles player on the roster, plus rising women's stars Olivia Gadecki (96) and Destanee Aiava (167).

Doubles specialists Matt Ebden and Ellen Perez complete the roster.

Brisbane International

Elena Rybakina will not return to defend her title. (Getty Images: Chris Hyde)

The Brisbane International takes place from December 29 to January 5, although qualifying gets underway two days earlier than that at the Queensland Tennis Centre.

The women's WTA500 event and men's ATP 250 will run concurrently, with the champions both crowned on January 5 on Pat Rafter Arena.

Four top 10 players have entered the women's draw, including world number one and back-to-back defending Australian Open champions Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula (7), Emma Navarro (8) and Daria Kasatkina (9).

The men's field is being touted as one of the strongest ever assembled, with 24-time grand slam winner Novak Djokovic aiming for his 100th ATP level title, playing in Brisbane for the first time since 2009.

It's been 16 years — and 23 grand slam titles — since Novak Djokovic last played at the Brisbane International. (Getty Images: Ezra Shaw)

Djokovic, aside from his Olympic gold medal in Paris, had a pretty poor year in 2024, failing to win a major for the first time since 2017, so will be desperate to turn things around.

He will be up against defending champion Grigor Dimitrov (10), Holger Rune (13) and Frances Tiafoe (18).

Australia will be well-represented in the draw, with the inclusion of Nick Kyrgios the undoubted highlight, as he makes his long-awaited return from injury, having last played a ranking event in June 2023.

Kyrgios said he and Djokovic will team up in doubles this year too, adding another level of intrigue to the Sunshine State tournament.

Alexei Popyrin and Jordan Thompson — who will be keen to reprise his role of giant killer on Pat Rafter Arena after his heroics in beating Rafael Nadal last year — will also compete in the ATP event, while Ajla Tomljanović has been given a wildcard to compete after her own injury-affected period.

Canberra International

The Canberra International Tennis Centre will host a leg of the ATP Challenger series and a WTA125 tournament to give rising stars some match practice ahead of Australian Open qualifying.

The Canberra International will take place from December 29 through to January 4.

No draws or player line ups have been released by the organisers, but Cruz Hewitt and defending champion Dominik Koepfer are set to compete.

Adelaide International

Jelena Ostapenko will face some serious opposition if she is to defend her title. (Getty Images: Sarah Reed)

The Adelaide International will welcome a host of top names to Memorial Drive between January 6-11.

The women's WTA500 tournament is set to host 13 of the women's top 20, including Jasmine Paolini (4), Jessica Pegula (7), last year's Hobart champion Emma Navarro (8), Daria Kasatkina (9) and Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejčíková (10).

Fairytale 2023 Wimbledon champ Markéta Vondroušová and former world number two Ons Jabeur also will appear, as will nine other top 20 players, including defending champion Jelena Ostapenko (15), Danielle Collins (11), Paula Badosa (12).

In the men's ATP250 event, top 20 ranked players Tommy Paul (12) and Lorenzo Musetti (17) headline the action, with home favourites Thanasi Kokkinakis and Jordan Thompson also slated to appear.

Olympic gold medallist Matt Ebden will also play in Adelaide, suiting up in the doubles tournament.

Hobart International

The Domain Tennis Centre is one of the most picturesque in the world. (Getty Images: Steve Bell)

The Hobart International returns for its 30th year, running from January 6-11 at the Domain Tennis Centre.

This WTA-only event features nine players in the top 50, including two-time winner and 2024 beaten finalist Elise Mertens (33).

Former world number three and 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens will also line up in Hobart alongside US compatriot Amanda Anisimova (36).

There are no home hopes in action in Tasmania, but New Zealand's Lulu Sun, who made a surprise march to the Wimbledon quarter-final last year will be hoping for a good run as she backs up from her home tournament in Auckland the week prior.

What about the Kooyong Classic?

There will be no play in Kooyong this year. (Getty Images: Mike Owen)

The Kooyong Classic, which started when the Australian Open moved from its grounds to the new Melbourne Park venue in 1988, will not take place in 2025.

There are other tournaments taking place over the region in the lead up to the Australian Open, including the ASB Classic in Auckland, with the WTA250 event taking place from December 30-January 5 and the men's ATP250 going from January 6-11.

The women's field features some big names, including two-time Australian Open champ Naomi Osaka and 2021 US Open winner Emma Raducanu.

There is also an ATP250 event in Hong Kong from December 30-January 5.

Australian Open

Qualifying for the Australian Open, featuring Cruz Hewitt, gets underway on January 6 and runs through to January 11.

That will feature Cruz Hewitt, Bernard Tomic and former world number one Simona Halep, among others.

From January 12 though, attention will turn to the season's opening grand slam.

Full coverage of the Australian Open will be available on the ABC Sport website, with a daily blog capturing all the action from all the courts every day.

Alternatively, live radio coverage will be available on the ABC Listen App or online.

You can also watch coverage on Channel 9, 9Now or Stan Sports.

Want more? Tune in to The ABC Tennis Podcast For all the latest on and off court, join Catherine Murphy, John Millman and John Alexander for the ABC Tennis Podcast on ABC listen.

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