The Australian Open 2025 kicks off with thrilling match previews as players like Reilly Opelka, Gauthier Onclin, and the legendary Novak Djokovic prepare for their respective matches. On Sunday at 1:00 PM, Opelka will face Onclin at Kia Arena, and fans are eager to watch this exciting encounter live. For those wanting to catch the action online, it will be streamed on bet365, provided users have a funded account or have placed bets within the last 24 hours. Australian viewers can tune in on Nine & Stan Sport, with Belgian fans able to watch on Eurosport.
Reilly Opelka takes the court with the hope of building on his recent success. Currently ranked World No. 171, Opelka's last match on January 5 saw him having to retire against Jiri Lehecka, which dealt him a setback. This season, Opelka has achieved a commendable 4-1 win-loss record, and his performance at the Brisbane tournament was notable. On the other hand, the rising star Gauthier Onclin, ranked World No. 236, showed his capabilities on January 9 with a hard-fought victory against Mackenzie McDonald, boasting his own 3-0 record this year. The two players have yet to face each other on the main tour, and their matchup is poised to be captivating.
Meanwhile, all eyes are on 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic as he embarks on his quest for another title. Djokovic, now World No. 7, recently made headlines with comments about his competitors during a GQ magazine interview. His light-hearted remarks about world No. 1 Jannik Sinner sparked some controversy, as Djokovic referred to Sinner with the word "skiing," drawing backlash on social media. Djokovic addressed these comments during his press conference, clarifying, "I’ve seen it on social media being made [to] some drama. That’s ridiculous. It was a quiz-type interview, and Sinner’s name brought up an image of him skiing, as we often talk about skiing together." He added, "His playing style and achievements deserve every praise. It’s rubbish to think I disrespected him."
Both players may eventually meet each other in the final, making their upcoming matches all the more significant. Djokovic's first-round opponent is American Nishesh Basavareddy, who will face the iconic player at 7:00 PM on Monday at Rod Laver Arena. This will be the first ATP competition between Djokovic and Basavareddy, and the expectations are high for the seasoned champion who looks to extend his remarkable record. Djokovic's goals remain lofty—he aims for not only another Grand Slam title but to join the ranks of Roger Federer and Jimmy Connors with 100 ATP titles.
Djokovic's path through the tournament won't be easy. Analysts, including former player Andy Roddick, voiced concerns about the draw, noting significant pressure from formidable opponents such as Carlos Alcaraz and Reilly Opelka. Roddick commented on Djokovic's potential challenges, emphasizing, "This is really tough. If I look at the 4-5 players who can get through, I still think Novak gets there most often." Djokovic's recent performance has cast some shadows of doubt, particularly after suffering a surprising quarter-final loss to Opelka, which posed questions about his form.
On Basavareddy's side, he enters this Grand Slam after successful qualifying matches, including impressive victories over seasoned players. The 19-year-old isn't daunted by the challenge of facing Djokovic, fully aware of his own rising talent. He hopes to make his mark and disrupt Djokovic’s rhythm, with the young American reportedly ready to play without fear. It’s also noteworthy to mention Basavareddy's strong qualifying performance, which made headlines as he became the youngest American to reach an ATP semi-final since Opelka's notable achievement back in 2016.
Djokovic will start his title defense against Basavareddy, and tennis fans worldwide await to see if the Serbian can reclaim his dominant persona on the court. The stakes are high, and Djokovic's ability to navigate the pressure from oncoming talented players will be one of the highlights of this year's tournament. With both the young rising stars and seasoned veterans like Djokovic present, the Australian Open 2025 promises to deliver moments of brilliance and fierce competition. Will Djokovic find the form needed to overcome younger foes, or will there be new champions rising through the ranks this year?