The Australian Open makes its long-awaited return later this month, and will comprise both day and night sessions.
Madison Keys is aiming to defend her title on the WTA Tour, having beaten two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the 2025 final.
And on the ATP Tour, Jannik Sinner has enjoyed similar dominance to Sabalenka, winning the last two Australian Open titles.
The Melbourne fans will be more than ready for more drama and entertainment this time around, with the players certain to be equally excited.
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Roger Federer liked night sessions at the Australian Open
Mixing up the drama are day and night sessions, with iconic figure Roger Federer having been asked by the media if he likes the latter back at the 2008 tournament.
Federer responded: “I like night sessions. They have a different feel to it. I think a bit more electrifying.
“Really the crowd is there for these one or two matches that are on schedule. Yeah, it’s sometimes I think a bit of a better atmosphere if the matches are good, yeah.”
Roger Federer wanted earlier start time for Australian Open night matches
It is true that night sessions often hit different for fans, particularly when the iconic Rod Laver Arena is playing host.
That does, of course, mean a late start for the players involved, with Federer having also been asked for his take on matches starting at a quarter to midnight.
He said: “Well, we have that problem also at the US Open. I think we start too late in general. But that’s what you get when you want to put women’s and men’s matches at the same time.
“Obviously you can’t put the women’s later on because that would get way too late for them. They would start sometimes, if our matches go five hours, they would start at 2:00 in the morning.
“I think we should maybe start the night sessions maybe an hour earlier. Instead of 7:30, 6:30. But I’m not the mastermind behind everything. But I do agree sometimes the matches do start too late for us.”
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Like Sinner this time around, Federer was the two-time defending champion in 2008, but he lost in the semifinals.
The Swiss star was beaten by Novak Djokovic, who went on to clinch his first Grand Slam title with a final win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
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