Australian Open 2025 News: 7 must-see matches on Day 1

The 2025 Australian Open is here, finally. Sure, the early-year tournaments are great, but mostly just allow players to get some work in before the first major each season. Does the Melbourne event happen too early in the year? Likely, but it's still extremely fun to watch.

This year we get a bunch of good storylines as well. One to watch is how well Novak Djokovic, a 10-time winner at the Australian Open, does with Andy Murray coaching him. Another is how Jannik Sinner handles the pressure of being the returning champion.

Day 1 of the tournament starts on Sunday, January 12. Or, if you live in the Western Hemisphere, on Saturday evening. The tournament runs through Sunday, January 26.

Seven matches to watch on Day 1 of the 2025 Australian Open

Marie Bouzkova versus 14-seed Mirra Andreeva

Clearly, every seeded player on this list should be favored in their matches against unseeded players because, well...the players are seeded for a reason. Still, Andreeva is a player to watch during the entire tournament. 2025 could be a big year for her as she continues to find her footing on the WTA tour. She still needs to handle power better, but a good run in Melbourne could springboard her to high-level success.

Anca Todoni versus 5-seed Zheng Qinwen

Zheng had her best season on tour in 2024, and she appears to be ascending into a long-term threat to win several majors. She has not earned one yet, but she did win the Olympics last summer and is clearly capable of beating any player. She made a run to the final at the 2024 Australian Open and should be one of the favorites in 2025.

Diane Parry versus 18-seed Donna Vekic

Vekic tends to play bigger in the more important events. She has never reached the quarterfinals at a 1000 event, but she has made the quarterfinals or better three times at a major. This includes reaching the quarterfinals in 2023. She also reached the final of the Olympics in 2024. While her winning in Melbourne would be a shock, her making a deep run would not be a surprise.

Wang Xinyu versus 11-seed Paula Badosa

Badosa is one of the more popular players in tennis, but she has had injury issues over the last couple of years. Still, she had a resurgence midway through 2024 and reached the semifinals at the Cincinnati Open and the China Open. She reached the quarters at the US Open. She might not win in Melbourne, but if she did, it would make for a great story.

Sloane Stephens versus 1-seed Aryna Sabalenka

It has been quite some time since Stephens made a deep run at a Grand Slam that wasn't the French Open, but she does have the kind of power that could give Sabalenka issues. This tournament, though, belongs to the Belarusian currently, and an early exit at the event would be very unexpected. Sabalenka is the favorite at the Aussie Open in 2025 having won in each of the last two years.

Otto Virtanen versus 20-seed Arthur Fils

Neither Fils nor Virtanen are expected to win the title, but both are young enough and capable enough that making a run would not be a surprise. This is likely more true of Fils, who has teased high-end ability and is still only 20 years old. He also has wins over Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, and Holger Rune. He has the confidence to be great, and 2025 could be his best year on tour.

Lucas Pouille versus 2-seed Alexander Zverev

Depending on what happens with Jannik Sinner and the appeal of him being found innocent for failing two drug tests in March of 2024, Zverev could reach No. 1 this year. He would be worthy as well because while he still loses matches he shouldn't, he has the serve and backhand to defeat anyone. He has reached the semifinals twice in Melbourne, including last year.

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