Australian Open 2022: When is it, vaccine situation, how to watch, tickets, who is playing, draw, seeds & betting odds

The Australian Open returns next January with the hope of full crowds as the world returns to normal post-COVID-19. 

There are still some unknowns in regards to quarantine rules, along with some prominent tennis stars with controversial vaccination beliefs.

Following the recent Melbourne Cup which boasted an attendance of 10,000 people, there is hope that there will be full capacity crowds at the Australian Open 2022.

WHEN IS THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2022?

The 2022 Australian Open will be played between January 17-30 at Melbourne Park in Victoria, Australia. 

HOW MANY FANS WILL BE ALLOWED AT THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN IN 2022? 

Australian Open tickets are for sale at the moment with officials planning for full capacity in all stadiums.

Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley spoke to the Herald Sun about fans at the Australian Open in 2022.

“Our ambition is to have an Australian Open as close to pre-pandemic conditions as possible, with full crowds and freedom of movement across the site,’’ Tiley said. 

Stands will likely be packed with fans and ground passes to make a return as the Australian Open hopes to serve up capacity crowds.

Before the pandemic, more than 800,000 fans crammed Melbourne Park for the event – but crowds were limited to 30,000 a day this year. #ausopen pic.twitter.com/co6IZi7XCk

— 10 News First Melbourne (@10NewsFirstMelb) November 5, 2021

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2022 TICKETS? 

You can purchase tickets to the tournament here. 

Ground pass tickets start from $29, with tickets to the women’s and men’s finals starting at $148.

WHERE IS THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN HELD?

The Australian Open is held each year at Melbourne Park, and the facility will continue to host the tournament in 2022.

Rod Laver Arena is the biggest court and hosts all the finals along with most top-seed matches. The nearby Margaret Court Arena also stages some of the biggest matches of the first grand slam of the year, while Melbourne Arena – which is open to anyone with a ground pass – is renowned as the rowdiest court at Melbourne Park.  

HOW TO WATCH THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2022?

Channel 9 has the rights to the Australian Open and will broadcast the tournament, with every game available to be live-streamed via their 9Now app. You can watch on laptop or mobile and choose which match and which court you want to focus on. Top-seed matchups and Australian players will be featured across their running free-to-air coverage. 

WHAT IS THE PRIZE MONEY FOR THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2022?

Grand Slam tournaments are known to feature hefty paydays for the athletes. In 2020, there was an overall $71 million purse for the competitors with tournament winners making $3.12 million each. Due to COVID-19, the 2021 Australian open purse was slightly reduced, with a $61.95 million prize pool and $2.13 million for the Open winners.

7 News has reported the prize money for the Australian Open in 2022 will be $80 million.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2022 DRAW

The draw has not been announced yet and is usually released around two weeks before the competition.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2022 SEEDS

There are 32 seeds in both the male and female Grand Slam tournaments, which will be announced closer to the start of the Open.

WHAT ARE THE COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS AND VACCINE RULES?

There have been conflicting remarks from Australian politicians regarding the vaccination requirements of Australian Open tennis players. 

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison spoke to media, and indicated that unvaccinated players are allowed to compete but will need to undergo a two-week quarantine.

However, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has also spoken to reporters, adding that the event will be open to vaccinated players and officials only. 

“I don’t think an unvaccinated tennis player is going to get a visa to come into this country, » he said.

“The vaccine doesn’t care what your tennis ranking is or how many Grand Slams you have won. Sorry, the virus does not care. »

Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley has also confirmed that all players will need to be fully vaccinated in order to participate. 

WHO IS IMPACTED BY COVID-19 AND THE VACCINE REGULATIONS?

Reigning men’s singles champion Novak Djokovic has refused to give his vaccination status, expressing to the public that it’s a personal matter. With a potential record 10th Australian Open championship on the line for the Serb, he has spoken to the media about the decision.

“We’ll see. We’ll have to wait and see,” Djokovic said following his ATP semi-final loss in Turin.

“I haven’t been talking to them, to be honest. I was just waiting to hear what the news is going to be and now that I know we’ll just have to wait and see, » he added.

The Age revealed last month that approximately one-third of the international tour cohort is unvaccinated, potentially posing problems for the Australian Open 2022. 

WHO ARE THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS?

Naomi Osaka is the defending women’s singles champion following her straight-sets win over Jennifer Brady in 2021. This marked her second Australian Open title. 

In the men’s draw, Novak Djokovic will be defending his title at the Australian Open 2022. His straight-sets victory over Daniil Medvedev at the last tournament was a record-breaking 9th championship for the Serb.

WHO HAS WON THE LAST 10 AUSTRALIAN OPEN TITLES?

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2022 MEN’S SINGLES ODDS

Odds courtesy of TAB

AUSTRALIAN OPEN WOMEN’S 2022 SINGLES ODDS

Odds courtesy of TAB