1h agoSun 1 Feb 2026 at 6:29amComing up: Australian Open men’s singles final \u2014 Djokovic vs Alcaraz<\/p>\n
9m agoSun 1 Feb 2026 at 7:27am<\/p>\n
How have Novak and Carlos matched up?![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/lcimg-45096246-3075-4b27-a9b5-84b2bdf1a9ec.png\")
(Getty)<\/p>\n
The wily veteran Novak Djokovic has a slight edge in the match-up against the young superstar Carlos Alcaraz in their nine meetings thus far.<\/p>\n
Remarkably, these two have only ever met in massive matches, with Djokovic leading 5-4 overall, although Alcaraz leads 3-2 in grand slams and 2-0 in major finals.<\/p>\n
2022 Madrid Masters semis: Alcaraz won 6-7(5), 7-5, 7-6(5)2023 French Open semis: Djokovic won 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-12023 Wimbledon final: Alcaraz won 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-42023 Cincinnati Masters final: Djokovic won 5-7 (7-6(7)), 7-6(4)2023 ATP Finals semis: Djokovic won 6-3, 6-22024 Wimbledon final: Alcaraz won 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(4)2024 Olympic final: Djokovic won 7-6(3), 7-6(2)2025 Aus Open quarters: Djokovic won 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-42025 US Open semis: Alcaraz won 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-2<\/p>\n
29m agoSun 1 Feb 2026 at 7:07am<\/p>\n
Equal prize money<\/p>\n
If women are not going to play best of five sets in the Australian Open then to be fair the winners at each stage should only be paid 60% of the men\u2019s prize money.
\nIt is blatantly unfair to fans if the women\u2019s games are over in 50 minutes or so whereas men\u2019s games average 3 to 5 hours for the same admission prices.<\/p>\n
– Michael Doherty <\/p>\n
Hi Michael,<\/p>\n
That logic doesn’t really track.<\/p>\n
The Australian Open is only the Australian Open with stars like Aryna Sabalenka, Naomi Osaka, Alex Eala etc.<\/p>\n
The prize money at tournaments like this is just that, prize money. It’s not a salary based on hourly rates or shifts worked.<\/p>\n
38m agoSun 1 Feb 2026 at 6:58am<\/p>\n
The surprising history of the men’s Australian Open trophy<\/p>\n
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz will play for the right to lift the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup tonight.<\/p>\n
But you may be interested to know it’s modelled on an ancient Roman artefact.<\/p>\n
1h agoSun 1 Feb 2026 at 6:20amTA boss wants women’s five-setters at AO 2027![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/lcimg-9e276c84-f146-4d8b-ab9c-4df032240013.jpeg\")
(Getty)<\/p>\n
Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina played out a gripping women’s singles final over two hours and 18 minutes last night, but Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley wants more.<\/p>\n
Tiley says he wants the women’s games at the pointy end of the Australian Open from next year in the hopes of replicating the drama of a glorious Friday featuring 10 hours of men’s semifinal action<\/a>.<\/p>\n “You can’t replicate that [men’s] semifinal day. That was amazing,” Tiley told AAP.<\/p>\n “I’m still getting chills just thinking about it, and then you can’t replicate that final last night on the women’s side. It was unbelievable. One of the things I’ve been saying now is that I think there should be three out of five sets for women.<\/p>\n “We should look at the last few matches \u2014 the quarters and the semis and the finals \u2014 and make the women’s side three out of five.”<\/p>\n He said the AO could take it upon themselves to institute it completely separate from the other grand slam tournaments and the WTA.<\/p>\n “Certainly if we’re going to do it and we think it’s the right thing, we’ll definitely go in 2027,” he said.<\/p>\n “So there’s nothing in the rules stopping that from happening, but we need to do it with really deep consultation with the players.”<\/p>\n
![\"Jon](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/lcimg-550f1014-a814-48c7-95d0-5a000dbfb8f9.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/lcimg-5bb2786f-ff10-42bf-b421-c8dedba791d3.jpeg\")
(Getty)<\/p>\n