Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport tennis news reporter in Melbourne
Australian Open 2025
The star players have landed in Melbourne for a season-opening Grand Slam which has already thrown up some intriguing storylines.
The Australian Open begins on Sunday, culminating with the finals weekend on 25-26 January.
Here are five key talking points as Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka prepare to defend their singles titles.
Can steely Sinner keep focus amid doping row?
How do you follow the greatest season of your career and one of the best in recent memory? That is the challenge for Sinner in 2025.
The 23-year-old returns to Melbourne Park – the scene of his maiden major win last year – as the men’s world number one, having lost just six of his 79 matches in 2024.
Sinner’s dominance also brought the US Open trophy, the season-ending ATP Finals and five other tour titles. He rounded off the year by leading Italy to the Davis Cup title.
However, the defence of his Australian Open crown comes during a period of great uncertainty for Sinner.
The Italian was cleared of wrongdoing after twice failing a doping test in March 2024, but the World Anti Doping Agency is challenging the decision.
It is seeking a ban of between one to two years, with the case to be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport between 16-17 April.
What happens next in Sinner doping case?
Will Djokovic create more history?
Novak Djokovic’s ability to do the unexpected never ceases to amaze.
So should we have been surprised when the 37-year-old announced his new coach for the start of the 2025 season would be… Andy Murray?
The tennis world was stunned when the closely-guarded secret was revealed in November.
Anything less than Djokovic landing a record-extending 11th title would be unsatisfactory for both men.
For the Serb, regaining his grip on the trophy would result in a 25th major – moving him clear of Australia’s Margaret Court as the sole leader of all-time Grand Slam singles titles.
Djokovic is seeded seventh but outlasting his younger rivals to become the oldest Grand Slam men’s champion in the Open era cannot be ruled out.
‘Don’t count him out’ – can Djokovic win 25th major?