Australian Open 2013 TV Schedule: Complete Guide to Tennis' First Big 2013 Event

Rafael Nadal isn't competing, but don't worry—the best in the world will compete at the 2013 Australian Open. The first big event of the year will be heavily televised throughout the entire week-plus of its slated action.

Some of the first day’s action is already in the books, but you don’t want to miss Day 2  as some of the biggest names in the game will compete for the very lucrative prize money. There’s also the recognition for winners that they can’t get from anywhere else.

Want to be a big name in the tennis world? Win a Grand Slam and exert your name on the national stage. It’s that simple.

Don’t want to miss any of the action? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Take a look at our complete viewing guide for the Melbourne Park event along with an overview of some stars who could potentially win the whole thing.

Where: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia

When: Sunday, Jan. 13 (7 p.m. ET) to Sunday, Jan. 27

Watch: ESPN and ESPN2, Tennis Channel

Live Streaming: ESPN3

Court Information

Surface: Plexicushion 

Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, has been the site of the Australian Open since 1988, making the 2013 tournament Melbourne Park's 26th edition.

Top Men’s Contenders

Novak Djokovic

The defending men’s singles champion at the Australian Open is also the world’s No. 1-ranked men’s player, according to the official ATP Rankings.

Djokovic has emerged as one of the best in the world and he’s been rewarded for it by being propelled to the top of the rankings. Does he have what it takes to beat a rested Roger Federer and avenge his U.S. Open loss to Andy Murray?

Roger Federer

Federer is a four-time Australian Open champion and the holder of the most Grand Slam titles in the history of the sport (17).

Is it too crazy to believe Fed-Ex, even at age 31, is still capable of beating the best the world has to offer? He did win at Wimbledon in 2012, after all.

Andy Murray

Murray burst into the “elite” category after an impressive end to his 2012 season. He got the better of Federer to win the men’s singles gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics and then finished the year off with a U.S. Open victory. He edged Djokovic in the final in New York.

He has already tasted victory in 2013 by retaining his Brisbane International title with a 7-6, 6-4, victory over Grigor Dimitrov just one week after the New Year.

 

Top Women’s Contenders

Victoria Azarenka

Azarenka won the 2012 Australian Open with an impressive win over Maria Sharapova in the finals. That, along with her holding the No. 1 spot in the women’s WTA Rankings, earned her the top seed for this year’s event.

This season hasn’t gone to plan so far. She was forced to withdraw from a Brisbane International semifinal matchup against Serena Williams due to a toe injury.

 

Maria Sharapova

Sharapova made it to the finals last year at Melbourne but was dispatched, rather handily, by Azarenka—the reigning champion.

Azarenka also holds the top spot in the women’s rankings and Sharapova sits right below her at the second spot. Sharapova is just 5-7 against Azarenka historically so would especially love to score a win in their series early on in 2013 in capturing the Australian Open trophy.

 

Serena Williams

Serena Williams recently capped off an incredible Olympics performance, smashing records and becoming only the second woman, the other being Steffi Graf, to complete a career “Golden Slam” (winning the Olympics and the four majors).

Overall she was just flat-out on fire in 2012. She finished with a 38-4 record for the season and will look to raise her ranking in 2013 on the heels of the momentum from that impressive performance.

 

Remaining Schedule

*For a complete schedule of events click here; for a complete bracket, click here.

**All times in ET

DATE	NETWORK	TIMES	ROUND
Monday, Jan. 14	Tennis Channel	7 p.m. - 9 p.m.	First
	ESPN2	9 p.m. - 7 a.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 15	Tennis Channel	7 p.m. - 9 p.m.	First and Second
	ESPN2	9 p.m. - 7 a.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 16	Tennis Channel	7 p.m. - 11 p.m.	Second
	ESPN2	11 p.m. - 7 a.m.
Thursday, Jan. 17	Tennis Channel	7 p.m. - 11 p.m.	Second and Third
	ESPN2	11 p.m. - 7 a.m.
Friday, Jan. 18	Tennis Channel	7 p.m. - 9 p.m.	Third
	ESPN2	9 p.m. - 7 a.m
Saturday, Jan. 19	Tennis Channel	7 p.m. - 9 p.m	Fourth
	ESPN2	9 p.m - 2 a.m.
Sunday, Jan. 20	ESPN2	3:30 a.m - 6 a.m	Fourth
	Tennis Channel	7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
	ESPN2	9 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Monday, Jan. 21	ESPN2	3:30 a.m - 6 a.m	Fourth
	Tennis Channel	7 p.m. - 9 p.m	Quarterfinals
	ESPN2	9 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 22	ESPN2	3:30 a.m. - 6 a.m	Quarterfinals
	Tennis Channel	7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
	ESPN2	9 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 23	ESPN2	3:30 a.m. - 6 a.m
	Tennis Channel	7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.	Doubles
	ESPN2	9:30 p.m. - 2 a.m.	Women's semi
Thursday, Jan. 24	ESPN2	3:30 a.m - 6 a.m.	Men's semi
	Tennis Channel	11 p.m. - 3 a.m	Doubles
Friday, Jan. 25	ESPN2	3:30 a.m. - 6 a.m	Men's semi
Saturday, Jan. 26	ESPN2	3 a.m. - 5:30 a.m.	Women's final
	Tennis Channel	5:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m.	Men's doubles
Sunday, Jan. 27	Tennis Channel	12:30 a.m. - 2:30 a.m.	Mixed doubles
	ESPN2	3 a.m. - 6:30 a.m.	Men's final