SCHEDULE and PREVIEW | 2024 Australian Open Day Three: Stacked Tuesday including SWIATEK, ALCARAZ, RYBAKINA, ZVEREV and PEGULA

From manic Monday to terrific Tuesday, the 2024 Australian Open schedule is out for Day Three and what a line-up it is including Iga Swiatek, Carlos Alcaraz, Elena Rybakina, Alexander Zverev, Holger Rune and Jessica Pegula. As well as the returns of Angelique Kerber and Emma Raducanu.

Our preview takes you through the main talking points on Day Three and the storylines to follow from the Order of Play as the first round heads towards being completed with many of the big names making their first appearances.

Starting proceedings off is World No.1 Iga Swiatek who will take to the Rod Laver Arena to start the Day Session. She faces Sofia Kenin in a game that has been a benchmark for their careers so far with the former facing her in the Roland Garros final four years ago when the American was at her pomp.

Since then, Swiatek has gone on to dominate the sport in patches while Kenin has fell off the map until now. Aside from poor results to open the Australian season, she has been slowly rising again and will look for the big upset on Tuesday.

Then it is the turn of Holger Rune. Albeit without his coach Boris Becker who is working for Eurosport instead in Germany. Guided by former Federer coach, Severin Luthi, he will face Yosihito Nishioka. Then in the Night Session, it is the turn of Elena Rybakina who many have pencilled in as the favourite to lift the title. Reaching the final last year, she won Brisbane to start the season and albeit had a blip in Adelaide, it seemingly was a stretch to far. She is in one of the ties of the opening round with former World No.1, Karolina Pliskova.

Then it is the turn of the Spanish Prince as Carlos Alcaraz begins his Australian Open. After not playing since Paris, he has not entered a warm-up so like Jannik Sinner for instance, his form isn't known. But if it is anything like Sinner, he will make a good start when he faces veteran Richard Gasquet.

Off on Margaret Court Arena, it sees Casper Ruud in action as well as former two-time champion, Victoria Azarenka who will face Camila Giorgi after showing some superb form in Brisbane two weeks ago after a bit of a torrid end to her 2023.

Alexander Zverev then follows up facing Dominik Koepfer. He had a superb start to the year on the other hand winning the United Cup and now faces his compatriot full of form and confidence and in the belief of Coco Vandeweghe is one of the favourites for the title.

Elsewhere, Qinwen Zheng, Grigor Dimitrov and Adelaide champion, Jelena Ostapenko all begin their campaigns on outside arenas and courts.

Also two big name returns are set for Tuesday as Emma Raducanu plays a Grand Slam for the first time since last year's Australian Open. She faces Shelby Rogers who she famously defeated en route to the US Open title. After a successful return in Auckland, she will play on one of the outside courts likely without pressure and for the first time the spotlight not on her.

Same can be said for Angelique Kerber who played at the United Cup and the former Australian Open champion will face Danielle Collins in one of the ties of the opening round. She could face Iga Swiatek again who eased past her in Perth so some revenge could be on the menu but in the former finalist, it is a tough test and one that outside of a teams competition could be the real acid test to her return to form.

Noon

(1) Iga Swiatek (POL) v Sofia Kenin (USA)

(8) Holger Rune (DEN) v Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN)

7pm

(3) Elena Rybakina (KAZ) v Karolina Pliskova (CZE)

(2) Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) v Richard Gasquet (FRA)

Noon

Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) v (11) Casper Ruud (NOR)

Camila Giorgi (ITA) v (18) Victoria Azarenka

7pm

(6) Alexander Zverev (GER) v Dominik Koepfer (GER)

Rebecca Marino (CAN) v (5) Jessica Pegula (USA)

11am

Sloane Stephens (USA) v Olivia Gadecki (AUS)

(13) Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) v Marton Fucsovics (HUN)

NB 5pm

Sebastian Ofner (AUT) v Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS)

Petra Martic (CRO) v Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS)

11am

Peyton Stearns (USA) v (14) Daria Kasatkina

Max Purcell (AUS) v Mate Valkusz (HUN)

(14) Tommy Paul (USA) v Gregoire Barrere (FRA)

(12) Qinwen Zheng (CHN) v Ashlyn Krueger (USA)

11am

(19) Cameron Norrie (GBR) v Juan Pablo Varillas (PER)

Danielle Collins (USA) v Angelique Kerber (GER)

Mackenzie McDonald (USA) v Juncheng Shang (CHN)

Emma Raducanu (GBR) v Shelby Rogers (USA)

11am

James McCabe (AUS) v Alex Michelsen (USA)

(27) Emma Navarro (USA) v Xiyu Wang (CHN)

(11) Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) v Kimberley Birrell (USA)

Dan Evans (GBR) v Lorenzo Sonego (ITA)

11am

Dusan Lajovic (SRB) v Giulio Zeppieri (ITA)

Aleksandra Krunic (SRB) v Clara Burel (FRA)

11am

Elisabetta Cocciaretto (ITA) v Lulu Sun (SWI)

(31) Alexander Bublik v Sumit Nagal (IND)

11AM

Roman Safiullin v (28) Tallon Griekspoor (NED)

(29) Lin Zhu (CHN) v Oceane Dodin (FRA)

Katie Boulter (GBR) v Yue Yuan

11AM

Renato Zarazua (MEX) v Martina Trevisan (ITA)

Marcos Giron (USA) v Jack Draper (GBR)

11AM

Arthur Fils (FRA) v Jiri Vesely (CZE)

11AM

Barnabe Zapata Mirallas (ESP) v (32) Jiri Lehecka (CZE)

Soonwoo Kwon (KOR) v Lukas Klein (SLO)

Yafan Wang (CHN) v (22) Sorana Cirstea (ROU)

11AM

Laslo Djere (SRB) v Arthur Cazaux (FRA)

Greet Minnen (BEL) v Clara Tauson (DEN)

Cristina Bucsa (ESP) v Anna Blinkova