Australian Open 21 January: Wednesday’s order of play
Everything you need to know about day four at the Australian Open
Rod Laver Arena, 2025 | © Zuma / PsNewz
Day 4 at the Australian Open means second-round tennis everywhere you look. This Wednesday, 21 January, brings a proper show court. Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz headline Rod Laver Arena in the day session, while local Alex de Minaur takes the night spotlight.
Timing note
Times below are local Melbourne time (AEDT, UTC+11). Canadian times are in brackets. “Not before” means the match cannot start earlier, even if the previous one ends quickly. The order of play can change if matches run longer than expected or weather forces adjustments. Check for late updates.
Rod Laver Arena: Alcaraz and Sabalenka in the spotlight
The centre court of the Australian Open will feature some of the best matches of the day: Sabalenka and Alcaraz will be in the spotlight in the day session, while Alex de Minaur will be the main attraction of the night.
Day session
- 11:30 am (07:30 pm on Tuesday, 20 January EST): Aryna Sabalenka (1) vs Bai Zhouxuan
- Followed by Carlos Alcaraz (1) vs Yannick Hanfmann, not before 02:00 pm (10:00 pm EST)
Sabalenka opens with a classic seed-versus-qualifier dynamic from early rounds: Bai arrives with match rhythm and nothing to lose, which can make the first few games awkward if Sabalenka’s timing is late. Alcaraz then faces Hanfmann, a clean striker who can hit through the court.
Night session
- 07:00 pm (03:00 am EST): Hamad Medjedovic vs Alex de Minaur (6)
- Followed by Iva Jovic (29) vs Priscilla Hon
De Minaur versus Medjedovic is speed and defense against raw pace. If De Minaur can get enough returns back and turn it into long exchanges, the crowd will push him over the line in tight moments. Jovic-Hon closes the stadium: a talented teenager against an Aussie who knows how to use the occasion.
Margaret Court Arena: WTA tennis at its finest
The Margaret Court Arena hosts four matches on this day, with women’s tennis bringing the most interesting clashes.
Day session
- 11:30 am (07:30 pm on Tuesday, 20 January EST): Jaime Faria vs Andrey Rublev (13)
- Followed by Coco Gauff (3) vs Olga Danilovic, not before 01:00 pm (09:00 pm EST)
Rublev’s tempo is relentless, but the Russian has a tough duel against Faria’s powerful serve. Gauff meets Danilovic in a contrast between the American’s elite movement and the risk-taking Serbian.
Night session
- 07:00 pm (03:00 am EST): Maria Sakkari vs Mirra Andreeva (8)
- Followed by Frances Tiafoe (29) vs Francisco Comesana
Sakkari-Andreeva feels like a “later-round” test, full of physicality, depth, and plenty of running. Tiafoe then brings the show under lights, while Comesana’s mission is to keep returns deep and stop Tiafoe riding waves of momentum during the match.
John Cain Arena: Medvedev and Zverev hit the court
Fans with tickets for the John Cain Arena have a great day of tennis in front of them: Svitolina, Medvedev, and Zverev take the spotlight in the stadium. Be aware: the night session starts earlier on this court.
Day session
- 11:00 am (07:00 pm on Tuesday, 20 January EST): Elina Svitolina (12) vs Linda Klimovicova
- Followed by Daniil Medvedev (11) vs Quentin Halys
Svitolina is built for tough conditions, repeatedly asking for one more ball until opponents blink. Medvedev versus Halys is the familiar equation of return depth vs first-serve damage; if Halys can’t land enough first deliveries early, Medvedev can turn it into a grind.
Evening session
- 05:00 pm (01:00 am EST): Elena-Gabriela Ruse vs Ajla Tomljanovic
- Followed by Alexander Zverev (3) vs Alexandre Muller, not before 06:30 pm (02:30 am EST)
Tomljanovic gets a big stage, and Zverev follows in the featured slot. Muller’s route is to extend points and force Zverev into patience, especially if the court slows as temperatures drop.
What to do between matches
If you’re on-site at Melbourne Park, Wednesday is also Evonne Goolagong Cawley Day, with First Nations music, dance, art, and food highlighted around the precinct.
Between sets, you can wander to Grand Slam Oval for big-screen viewing and food stalls, hit TOPCOURT for DJ sets and sunset gigs. Another option is to look for a good shade to chill out for a bit and use your phone to check other match results or play in an online casino. The wireless internet connection in Melbourne is fantastic, so there won’t be an issue playing the most demanding games with a powerful smartphone. Be aware that, if you are a foreigner in Australia, you might not be able to play on your favourite platforms.
Matches in other courts: Raducanu, Opelka, and others
Outside of the three main courts of the Australian Open, there are other interesting matches. For example, American Reilly Opelka vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (14) in the KIA Arena, or former US Open winner Emma Raducanu against Anastasia Potapova in the ANZ Arena.
Canadian tennis players will feature on smaller courts as well. Victoria Mboko clashes against Caty McNally at the 1573 Arena, still without a set time to start. Leylah Fernandez is scheduled to play her first-round match in the doubles event with Timea Babos against Cristina Bucsa and Nicole Melichar-Martinez, again, without a set time to start, at Court 13.
