Australian Open Schedule 2012: Dates and Times for Entire Tournament
The 2012 Australian Open is right around the corner, with play starting on Sunday night in the United States, which is actually Monday morning in Australia. Novak Djokovic and Kim Clijsters are both back in Melbourne to defend their Grand Slam titles.
Aside from Djokovic, there are several storylines to watch on the men's side. Most notably, Roger Federer's attempt to get back on top after losing his major event mojo in recent seasons. He's still an elite talent, but surviving the grind has been increasingly difficult for the Swiss star.
Other names to watch include Andy Murray, who is still seeking the elusive first Grand Slam triumph, Rafael Nadal and fan-favorite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The best American hope is likely Mardy Fish. He enters the tournament as the eighth seed.
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As for the women's side, the name to watch as always is Serena Williams. Ignore the No. 13 seed, because when she plays, she's the favorite. Staying healthy will be her biggest key to picking up another trophy down under.
Top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki will continue her journey toward her first major title, which she desperately needs to help cement her legacy as a truly great player. Rising star Petra Kvitova and global icon Maria Sharapova are a couple other names to keep an eye on.
Finally, here's the complete schedule for the two-week event:
| Date | Time (ET) | Coverage |
| Sunday, Jan. 15 | 6:30 p.m.-7 a.m. | First Round |
| Monday, Jan. 16 | 7 p.m.-7 a.m. | First Round |
| Tuesday, Jan. 17 | 7 p.m.-7 a.m. | Second Round |
| Wednesday, Jan. 18 | 7 p.m.-7 a.m. | Second Round |
| Thursday, Jan. 19 | 7 p.m.-7 a.m. | Third Round |
| Friday, Jan. 20 | 7 p.m.-7 a.m. | Third Round |
| Saturday, Jan. 21 | 7 p.m.-7 a.m. | Round of 16 |
| Sunday, Jan, 22 | 7 p.m.-6 a.m. | Round of 16 |
| Monday, Jan. 23 | 7 p.m.-6 a.m. | Quarterfinals |
| Tuesday, Jan. 24 | 7 p.m. - 6 a.m. | Quarterfinals |
| Wednesday, Jan. 25 | 9:30 p.m.-6 a.m. | Semifinals |
| Thursday, Jan. 26 | 3:30 a.m.-6 a.m. | Semifinals |
| Friday, Jan. 27 | 3 a.m.-5:30 a.m. | Women's Final |
| Saturday, Jan. 28 | 3 a.m.-6:30 a.m. | Men's Final |
All matches will be aired on either Tennis Channel or ESPN2.
For more information such as re-aired matches, check out Sports Illustrated's complete breakdown.
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