Alexander Zverev overcame a shaky start before reaching the second round on Sunday's first day of the Australian Open, as top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka get set to enter the fray.

Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova withdrew from the Australian Open on Sunday after the Czech player said she was dealing with a shoulder injury.

Alcaraz starts his bid for a career Grand Slam, with the Australian Open the only title missing from his collection.

Novak Djokovic said Saturday he likes his chances at the Australian Open despite "missing a bit of juice" in the legs, declaring he can still beat anyone on his day.

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams said Saturday she was "up for the challenge" as she gets set to become the oldest woman to play at the Australian Open at age 45.

The Australian Open will offer a record A$111.5 million ($74.73 million) in prize money this year and while players welcomed the increase, top names like Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka said the push for a bigger payout must continue across the Grand Slams.

The 24-year-old Italian arrived at Melbourne Park last year under intense pressure, not knowing his fate after a drugs scandal.

Nick Kyrgios was feted like a rockstar at an exhibition event in Melbourne on Tuesday, but remained adamant a decision not to play singles at the Australian Open was the right one.

Tennis fans in Australia could win A$10 million ($6.71 million) by correctly predicting every match winner at the Australian Open, tournament organisers said on Tuesday.

The Australian Open boasts 11 Grand Slam champions with top seed Aryna Sabalenka among the title favourites, and Swiatek will have little time to ease herself back into elite competition mode.

Carlos Alcaraz beat great rival Jannik Sinner in a light-hearted sell-out exhibition match in South Korea on Saturday ahead of the Australian Open.

Aryna Sabalenka beat Karolina Muchova in straight sets to reach her third Brisbane International final in a row on Saturday, a week ahead of the Australian Open.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka said she still had room for improvement after a second dominant win in the Brisbane International on Thursday.

Aryna Sabalenka said her much-maligned exhibition match against Nick Kyrgios had paid dividends as she demolished Cristina Bucsa on Tuesday to launch her Australian Open preparations.

The winners of the men's and women's singles at the first Grand Slam of the year will each take home Aus$4.15 million (US$2.79 million), up 19 percent from last year's Aus$3.5 million.

Daniil Medvedev on Monday renewed his call for the Australian Open to begin its night sessions earlier, after the Russian endured a string of recent post-midnight finishes at Melbourne Park, but admitted there was little chance of it happening.

Novak Djokovic announced on Sunday he was leaving the professional players' union he co-founded in 2020, citing "concerns regarding transparency and governance" within the body.

World number three Alexander Zverev admitted on Saturday that he has "a lot of catching up to do" to challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

The American will compete in the main draw at Melbourne Park for the first time since 2021.

Stefanos Tsitsipas said on Thursday he seriously considered retiring from tennis in the depths of a struggle with serious back pain during much of the 2025 season.