The 2026 Australian Open’s opening week continues to shatter attendance records as Melbourne Park welcomes unprecedented crowds during qualifying. As players across various skill levels compete on the outer courts, Wednesday’s schedule at Rod Laver Arena will showcase an exceptional lineup of practice sessions.
Many top players, including Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Novak Djokovic, and more, will step on the court for their preparation for the main draw. The day will culminate with the highly anticipated Million Dollar 1 Point Slam exhibition, creating a comprehensive day for tennis fans around the world.
Wednesday Brings Together Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Others on Rod Laver Arena for Practice Sessions
The practice schedule for Wednesday, January 15, will feature a star-studded lineup for training sessions beginning at 10:15 AM local time on the Rod Laver Arena. Frances Tiafoe and Stan Wawrinka open the day, followed by Naomi Osaka and Elena Rybakina at 11:15 AM. The world’s two leading female players, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Świątek, will take to the court at 11:45 AM, giving fans an exclusive look at the dominant forces in women’s tennis.
The men’s side features equally compelling pairings throughout the afternoon hours. The 10-time Australian Open Champion, Novak Djokovic, will practice alongside Daniil Medvedev at 12:45 PM. This marks an important slot as the great Serb will look to cement his legacy further in Melbourne by capturing an 11th title and his record 25th major title.
World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and No. 3 Alexander Zverev share the court at 1:00 PM, while Australian local Alex de Minaur teams up with Felix Auger-Aliassime at 1:30 PM for their preparation session. World No. 2 Jannik Sinner shares the court with Taylor Fritz at 2:15 PM, after which individual training sessions for Belinda Bencic at 2:30 p.m. and Learner Tien at 4:00 p.m. complete the afternoon slots.
American players Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula share the court at 5:00 PM, marking the final practice session before the evening’s main exhibition tournament. This pairing represents two of the strongest American competitors preparing their games for the opening round of the championship.
Wednesday practice sessions incl.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/xrtJPDRioS
— Michal Samulski (@MichalSamulski) January 13, 2026
Ground Pass holders can access these open practice sessions at Rod Laver Arena with unreserved seating during official gate opening hours. This allows the tennis community to witness their favorite players during their elite-level training. Meanwhile, qualifying matches continue simultaneously on the outside courts throughout Wednesday, providing additional opportunities for fans to experience competitive tennis.
Record Crowd and Million Dollar Exhibition Match Marks a Historic Australian Open Opening Week
The opening days of the 2026 Australian Open have shattered all previous attendance records for the qualifying period. The first day of qualifying drew 29,261 spectators, demolishing the previous record of 7,543 by nearly four times the previous standard. This exceptional increase reflects the tournament’s expanded opening week format and newly implemented initiatives for the fans.
The footfall only caught speed heading into the second day, with 34,209 fans attending Tuesday’s sessions and surpassing the former Day 2 record of 18,129. Through the opening two days alone, over 60,000 spectators have already entered Melbourne Park, demonstrating extraordinary passion for the championship.
The evening’s highlight, the Million Dollar 1 Point Slam, commences at 7:30 PM local time, featuring 22 professional players competing against 10 amateur competitors from across Australia. The knockout format uses rock, paper, scissors to determine serving order, with professionals allowed one serve and amateurs receiving two. The five-round competition culminates at Rod Laver Arena, where the ultimate champion will claim one million Australian dollars.
