Sunday's tennis acca tips: Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka to start their defences strong in highlight packed start

The Australian Open have set out to make a strong start to their 2024 tournament by scheduling a Sunday as the first day.

Sunday will present the first glimpses at defending champions Novak Djokovic, who will open the evening session on day one against Dino Prizmic, and Aryna Sabalenka, who will take to the Rod Laver Arena court after the 23-time Grand Slam champions' match.

There will also be tricky starts for other top contenders on the first day, with Jannik Sinner tasked with getting beyond Dutch workhorse Botic van de Zandschulp.

Here, we make select picks for the first day's action in Melbourne as the 2024 Australian Open gets underway. 

 

Australian Open 2024 Men's Singles: Jannik Sinner vs Botic van de Zandschulp | Pick: Sinner

Australian Open 2024 Men's Singles: Thiago Seyboth Wild vs Andrey Rublev | Pick: Rublev

Australian Open 2024 Men's Singles: Novak Djokovic vs Dino Prizmic | Pick: Djokovic

Australian Open 2024 Men's Singles: Frances Tiafoe vs Borna Coric | Pick: Tiafoe

Australian Open 2024 Women's Singles: Leylah Annie Fernandez vs Sara Bejlek | Pick: Fernandez

Australian Open 2024 Women's Singles: Maria Sakkari vs Nao Hibino | Pick: Sakkari

Australian Open 2024 Women's Singles: Magda Linette vs Caroline Wozniacki | Pick: Wozniacki

Australian Open 2024 Women's Singles: Ella Seidel vs Aryna Sabalenka | Pick: Sabalenka

 

Jannik Sinner vs Botic van de Zandschulp

Jannik Sinner will open his season with his first round clash against Botic van de Zandschulp.

Van de Zandschulp already has four matches under his belt this term, but his 2-2 suggests he will struggle if Sinner is on song.

These players have never faced each other before, and for Van de Zandschulp, it represents a chance to claim a rare top ten win.

Sinner is the better player on a hard court, at least outdoors, and he should be able to secure passage to the second round in the opening match on the main stadium court.

 

Thiago Seyboth Wild vs Andrey Rublev

Hong Kong titlist Andrey Rublev heads into the Australian Open with an unbeaten record this season.

His opponent Thiago Seyboth Wild is yet to win a main draw match in 2024 losing both his United Cupt singles ties and suffering a first round defeat in Adelaide after only gaining entry to the tournament as a lucky loser.

Rublev should have the weapons to put away his Brazilian opponent on the fast courts in Australia.

Rublev could be an outside contender for the Australian Open title, and a good start could be just what he needs to get that going.  

 

Novak Djokovic vs Dino Prizmic

Novak Djokovic shares his prime time slot with 18-year-old world No 178 Dino Prizmic.

For Prizmic, this will be the biggest match of his career, but for Djokovic, the contest is the first step in a year he will hope is just as historic if not more than last term.

This is the first meeting between these players at any level.

Djokovic should win this in straight sets.

 

Frances Tiafoe vs Borna Coric

Frances Tiafoe vs Borna Coric has five setter written all over it with the American locked into a tough opening assignment as he bids to improve on a run to the third round in 2023.

Coric leads the head-to-head 1-0 having won a five set battle when the two met in the Davis Cup in 2018.

These players have both won one and lost one this season in their respective two matches.

Tiafoe probably holds a slight edge and has improved a lot since the first meeting between them.

 

Leylah Fernandez vs Sara Bejlek

After her 2021 US Open streak, Leylah Fernandez was beset by injury, but she now appears to be back on the path to success.

Fernandez is the No 32 and final seed but should take heart from making that cut.

Fernandez is a player who can upset the best in the world, but she needs to guard against those who would upset her.

Fernandez and Bejlek will square off in the 1st round of the Australian Open for the first clash in their careers. 

 

Maria Sakkari vs Nao Hibino

It has been four years since the first meeting between Maria Sakkari and Nao Hibino, but the result might just be the same.

Sakkari will be heavily favoured to power through the first round without dropping a set.

The Greek No 1 enjoyed a strong finish to the 2023 season, including a breakout title win in Mexico.

On the hard courts of Melbourne she will be too much for Hibino to handle.

 

Magda Linette vs Caroline Wozniacki

Magda Linette and Caroline Wozniacki prepare to meet for the third time in their pro careers in singles.

Wozniacki won both of those meetings, but the most recent of those was nearly seven years ago.

Linette has enjoyed a strong 2023 but would like to close the gap between herself and national No 1 Iga Swiatek.

Former world No 1 Wozniacki meanwhile needs to show she can win these kinds of clashes to prove her Grand Slam ceredentials.

 

Ella Seidel vs Aryna Sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka will close out the evening's action at Rod Laver Stadium when she faces Ella Seidel.

Sabalenka is a strong contender to retain her Australian Open crown, although the field is pretty tight.

This will be the first-ever meeting between these players in a singles competition at any level.

Sabalenka should find her radar early and belt her way to a quick victory.

 

READ MORE: Australian Open betting outright winners tips and preview for men's and women's tournaments