Australian Open Schedule 2026: Key Dates, Daily Session Times, and Today’s Matches (Jan 19)
The Australian Open schedule is now in full swing in Melbourne, with main-draw play running January 18 through February 1, 2026. If you’re planning your viewing (or picking the best time to check scores), the tournament follows a predictable rhythm: day sessions from late morning and night sessions starting in the evening local time, with marquee singles often stacked on the show courts.
Below is a practical, fan-friendly breakdown of the round-by-round calendar, the typical daily start times, and the headline order of play for Monday, January 19.
Australian Open schedule: the tournament calendar (main draw)
Here’s the simplest way to think about the two-week flow:
| Stage | Typical days in the schedule | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| First Round (Round of 128) | Jan 18–20 | Full-field start; big names begin their runs |
| Second Round (Round of 64) | Jan 21–22 | Winners return quickly; fewer “free” matches |
| Third Round (Round of 32) | Jan 23–24 | Draw tightens; seeded matchups get sharper |
| Fourth Round (Round of 16) | Jan 25–26 | “Second week” intensity begins |
| Quarterfinals | Jan 27–28 | Only the last eight remain |
| Semifinals | Jan 29–30 | Finalists decided |
| Finals Weekend | Jan 31–Feb 1 | Women’s final Saturday; men’s final Sunday |
If you’re following multiple players, Jan 21 onward is when repeat appearances come quickly and scheduling becomes more tactical for recovery.
Daily session times: when matches usually start
On most days, Melbourne Park is structured around two main sessions:
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Day session: commonly begins around 11:00am (Melbourne time)
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Night session: commonly begins around 7:00pm (Melbourne time)
A few later-round days can shift slightly (for example, a later day-session start or a later night-session start), but the day/night framework stays consistent.
Time-zone help (if you’re watching from Egypt): Cairo is generally 9 hours behind Melbourne this time of year.
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11:00am Melbourne = 2:00am Cairo
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7:00pm Melbourne = 10:00am Cairo
Today’s Australian Open schedule: Monday, January 19 (highlights)
Monday is Main Draw Day 2, still deep in first-round territory, which is why you’ll see a blend of top seeds and dangerous floaters across the show courts.
Rod Laver Arena: featured singles
These are the marquee singles names headlining the stadium card:
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Coco Gauff vs Kamilla Rakhimova
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Alex de Minaur vs Mackenzie McDonald
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Iga Swiatek vs Yuan Yue
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Novak Djokovic vs Pedro Martinez
Practical viewing tip: on a four-match stadium slate, exact start times drift based on match length. The safest approach is to anchor your plan to the first match of the session and then treat everything after as “follows.”
Margaret Court Arena: featured singles
A second show court stacked with high-interest matchups:
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Daniil Medvedev vs Jesper De Jong
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Amanda Anisimova vs Simona Waltert
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Mirra Andreeva vs Donna Vekic
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Casper Ruud vs Mattia Bellucci
If you’re tracking potential deep runs, this court often delivers early clues: how cleanly a contender serves, how fast they close sets, and whether they’re spending too much time in extended rallies.
How to use the Australian Open schedule without getting burned by changes
The Australian Open schedule is reliable at the “round and session” level, but volatile at the “exact match time” level. Three quick rules help:
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Order matters more than time. “Second on court” can mean 1 hour later or 3 hours later.
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Night sessions are the most predictable. They usually start on time, then roll.
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Weather and long matches create domino effects. Even with roofs on major courts, the overall site flow can still shift.
If you tell me who you’re following (one player or a list), I can turn the Australian Open schedule into a tight “watch plan” for your time zone (Cairo or anywhere else).
