Australia Open 2023: Australia Open Day 1 Order of Play unveiled, Rafael Nadal, Iga Swiatek headline action

Australia Open 2023: Australian Open is all set to kickstart from 16th January 2023. The Order of play for Day 1 has been unveiled by the organisers. All eyes will be on Defending champion Rafael Nadal as he headlines the action on the first day of the tournament. The Spaniard faces in-form 21-year old Jack Draper in the first round. Women’s World No.1 Iga Swiatek, American teenager Coco Gauff, Maria Sakkari will also be in action on the day at the Rod Laver Arena. Daniil Medvedev also will face Marcos Giron. Follow Australian Open 2023 LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN

Australian Open 2023: Rafael Nadal to face Jack Draper in Day contest as Australian Open Day 1 Order of Play unveiled, Iga Swiatek & Daniil Medvedev headline night matches on 16 January – Check Out

Also Read: Australian Open LIVE: DRAWS are out, TOP 5 mouthwatering 1st round clashes which no tennis fan would miss, CHECK OUT & Follow AO2023 LIVE Updates

Australian Open Order of Play Monday 16 January#AusOpen #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/LQCqf1yZPC

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 13, 2023

Rafael Nadal vs Jack Draper – 8 AM IST

All eyes will be on Rafael Nadal as he enters the Grand Slam event as the defending champion. The Spaniard is currently not at the best of his form as he faced two successive defeats in the United Cup. Before that, he finished 2022 by bowing out of the ATP World Tour finals in the group stages. The defending champion is under bit of a pressure ahead of his first round contest.

Meanwhile Draper has recently made his way into the semifinals at the Adelaide International 2. He defeated third seed Karen Khachanov and eighth seed Tommy Paul in the tournament. He also made his way into the semifinal and can’t be taken lightly.

Iga Swiatek vs Jule Niemier – 1.30 PM IST

World No.1 Iga Sweiatek will feature in first game of the night session on the day. Swiatek will take on Germany’s Jule Niemier. Swiatek is the overwhelming favourite to win the Women’s Singles title. She however is racing to be fit in time before the start of the Grand Slam event. She suffered a shoulder injury and had to withdraw from the Adelaide Open.

Australian Open 2023: Australian Open Day 1 Order of Play unveiled, Rafael Nadal to face Jack Draper in Day contest, Iga Swiatek & Daniil Medvedev headline night session on 16 January – Check Out

Daniil Medvedev vs Marcos Giron – (After Swiatek’s match)

Last year’s finalist Daniil Medvedev will feature in the day’s final contest at the Rod Laver Arena. He will face USA’s Marcos Giron. He is ranked 60th in the world. Djokovic who enjoyed a brief stint as the World No.1 last year is looking to get back to his best this season. His 2022 season didn’t go as he would have expected. He has slipped down the rankings is currently World No.8.

pic.twitter.com/7EFEnbNlaU

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 13, 2023

Simultaneously at the Margaret Couth Arena, Jessica Pegula will headline the day contest. The American World No.3 will face Romania’s Cristian. Victoria Azarenka and Sofia Kenin, who are the only former champions in this year’s Women’s singles draw will also be in action on the day.

In the night session, Stefanos Tsitsipas will face France’s Quentin Halys. This match will be followed by the contest between USA’s World No.1 Madison Keys and Anna Blinkova.