The 111th Australian Open, 2023’s first Professional Tennis Major, commences tomorrow, Australian time, but tonight at 6 PM here in Central time of the U.S. ESPN and ESPN2 will cover along with ESPN+, and Tennis Channel will have replays throughout the day. Interesting time in Men’s tennis as Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic are battling for the all time Grand Slam victories lead. Nadal has 22 at present, while Joker has 21. Novak has won the Australian 9 times. Without Djokovic in the draw last year because he wasn’t vaccinated and was not allowed in the country, Nadal won his second Australian title. Novak is back now though and seeking to claim the championship that he’s won in 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020 and 2021. Rafa’s only other Australian title was in 2009. If Djoker wins, they’ll go to the French in late May, where Nadal has won 14 times, all tied up in majors at 22.

On the Women’s side, there is typical unpredictability with who will win the championship in Melbourne over this fortnight. Iga Swiatek is the hottest player in women’s tennis having won the French in 2020 and in 2022 and capturing the U.S, Open in 2022. Her best finish at the Australian is a semifinal appearance last season. Australian Ashleigh Barty won in Melbourne last year and then retired at age 25. So, the women’s side seems pretty open, though Swiatek is seeded No.1.

TV

ESPN and ESPN2 will begin coverage tonight at 6 CT with coverage running over the two week period and Tennis Channel featuring replays throughout the day. The women’s semifinals is Thursday, January 26th from 2:30 AM-6:30 AM CT on ESPN, so most will not be able to watch a lot of it unless you’re a really early bird or out for an all nighter. There will be a replay on Thursday during the day. The Men’s semifinals is Thursday to Friday, Jan 26-27th, 9:30 PM-12 AM CT for the first semifinal and 2:30-5:30 AM CT on Friday, 1/27, for the second semifinal, with ESPN televising.

The Women’s Final is Saturday, 1/28, from 2:30-5:30 AM CT on ESPN, and the Men’s Final is Sunday, 1/29 from 2:30-6 AM CT on ESPN. So it’ll be tough to catch the action. DVR will help quite a bit for this tournament like it always does if you can refrain from looking at the scores on the ESPN or other websites.

Predictions

Women’s Semifinals

1.Iga Świątek over Jessica Pegula (excellent 28 year old American from Buffalo, N.Y. and daughter of Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula) 6-4, 5-7, 6-3

2.Ons Jabeur (Tunisia) over Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) 7-5, 4-6, 6-4

Final

Iga Świątek over Ons Jabeur 7-6 (7-4), 6-3

The 21 year old native of Raszyn, Poland does what the experts think she’s going to do and captures her first Australian and 4th Slam. She’s got a bright future. Hopefully she stays focused unlike Barty and Naomi Osaka, who’s pregnant now so not playing, but says she’ll be back next year for the Australian. Osaka’s got a lot of talent, but always seems to have some drama. I expect Coco Gauff to play well and reach the quarters of this tournament and keep inching closer to her first major title. I like her to possibly get over the hump at Roland Garros, will predict closer to time, where she lost in the final last year to Swiatek. Coco just needs to keep her passion and drive up, and she seems to be the type of competitor and person to do that at 18 years old. She’ll be 19 on March 13th.

Men’s Semifinals

1. Nadal over Cameron Norrie (27 year old native from Johannesburg, South Africa via TCU. Nice left handed player.), 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 7-5.

2. Djokovic over Casper Ruud (really fine 24 year old player from Oslo, Norway who is on the verge of a Grand Slam title, lost in the finals of the French and the U.S. in 2022) 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Final

Should be a classic though like the favorite. Djoker over Nadal 7-5, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3

The 35 year old Djokovic and the 36 year old Nadal will be all square at 22 majors heading into the 127th French Open in Paris (Roland Garros, specifically) which starts Sunday, May 28th. The Final of the Men’s French Open will be Sunday, June 11th. Expecting a riveting Australian first though.