Sadly, can’t do too much with the rains and the outdoor courts.
But once dry (fingers crossed its by late afternoon), then Nine can showcase more games in primetime.
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The Vertanen vs Fils match becoming a marathon, Gem indeed went to this after the first women’s one and has now been going more than 2.5hrs and is in a 4th set. The favourite and seeded Frenchman lost the first set, but came back to take the next two against the Finnish player.
Meanwhile, a top player Casper Ruud has taken to Rod Laver Arena, on the main channel with Brenton Speed and Jelena Dokic calling for Nine.
updated
AO saying “no play before 4pm edt on the outside courts”.
Wonder if any matches might be pushed back to tomorrow or Tuesday? Or if they’ll persist into the evening? Which will make schedules including Nine’s planned features interesting.
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A couple of battles ongoing here, two 3hr+ matches:
Ruud v Manur now going to a 5th on 9.
While veteran Kei Nishikori came back from 2-0 sets down to take it to a decider, now on Gem.
Looks like rain about to clear Melbourne too, maybe 15min, probably longer to make the courts safe and in top order again though.
Interesting that the “coming up” graphics still use the 3d Nine logo. Shame they haven’t updated it yet.
Update: no play on outside courts until at least 6pm edt…
Show Court 3 is essentially flooded for example, that’s where Australian Omar Jasika was playing way back at 10am this morning and was on break point in the 2nd set when play was suspended.
https://x.com/willzfaulk/status/1878322286408986797?t=Skh3fwl4RqIY65TSxdcPUA&s=19
edit
Nine now with the unfortunate situation of having no matches until at least 6pm edt, possibly 7pm. A lot of filler will now be required, perhaps some replays/highlights of this morning’s Australian and this afternoon’s marathons plus desk chat and previews?
Unfortunate indeed for Nine, particularly for the 6pm News lead-in in some cities. But luckily, it is just Day One. But will the “average viewer” be too fussed about the filler?
Nick McArdle mentioned on 9Gem that Paula Badosa’s match was coming up shortly.
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updated
Good news (6 hours later!) 
Play is resuming on the outside courts, earlier suspended matches’ players currently warming-up. Some matches have been re-scheduled to either tomorrow or Tuesday. There are a number of Aussies now in action tonight, as well as some other big names, in good news for Nine and ground pass holders for prime time, could still go late…
https://ausopen.com/schedule#!41183
At the end of the day, it’s essentially a ‘bonus’ day for Nine and sponsors, of course it traditionally didn’t used to begin until tomorrow.
On both channels now.
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Terrific to see a lot of Tennis matches streamed live on different courts so I won’t need to put up with pop up ads, Tony Jones, Ariarne Titmus and Jessica Fox fronting the coverage. There are some matches that have zero commentary.
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edit
Sylvia Jeffreys, following her impressive Paris Olympics stint, hosting 9Gem feed in prime time at the Oz Open (Nick McArdle did the afternoon who’d previously done nights, following Brett Phillips this morning).
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9 going with Sabalenka on Rod Laver first up tonight, while 9Gem are showing another Aussie Li Tu.
Australian Omar Jasika against Hugo Gaston, who started playing this morning, is now on 9Now.
I think Nine should’ve stayed with Jasika and put it on the main channel, while Sabalenka should’ve been on Gem. Then could’ve gone to Tu’s match after. I guess they want main channel to focus on centre court and top players. A good look though in terms of not becoming too Australia-centric, often a criticism online, despite the audience-appeal.
9Now streams still have localised digital ads during change of ends and breaks in play.
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DAY 2: AUSTRALIAN OPEN BROADCAST SCHEDULE
Kyrgios, Alcaraz, Osaka and seven other Aussies feature on a Mega Monday of Grand Slam action
The much anticipated return of Nick Kyrgios to Grand Slam tennis heralds a mega Monday of Australian Open matches, when Day 2 is live and free on the 9Network and 9Now.
A roll call of the biggest names in world tennis that includes Stefanos Tsitsipas, Carlos Alcaraz and Naomi Osaka will join Kyrgios, who is set to fire on John Cain Arena from 7.00pm AEDT.
While Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis, Jordan Thompson, Alja Tomljanovic, Christopher O’Connell, Talia Gibson, James Duckworth and Maya Joint will ride a wave of home support to get their campaigns underway across Channel 9 and 9Gem.
Throughout the 2025 Australian Open, fans will have the ability to watch every point of every match, at any time live, free and on any device in full HD on 9Now.
Featured Day 2 games on 9Now will include Men’s world No.1 Jannik Sinner, when he begins his title defence. While highly regarded challenger Coco Gauff faces fellow American Sofia Kenin in a tricky Round 1 match up.
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No mention of Djokovic is interesting…
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Maybe it’s been moved to Tuesday? Something to do with today’s delays perhaps?
edit
Okay maybe it’s just an accidental (or intentional omission) by Nine, as AO official schedule does list the Djoker at 7pm RLA tomorrow.
Yeah I was looking at the order of play about an hour ago and noticed he was on.
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Spotted across town at the big bash derby tonight.
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10 time Australian Open winner gets neglected by Nine for Round 1? That hasn’t happened in a while by Nine (or Seven) to not feature him in the early rounds.
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If intentional, could be because he’s seen as a bit polarising now and because tomorrow’s jammed with names there wasn’t room left for him on the release?
He might be relegated to 9Now and they’ll just cross/promote his match on 9 and Gem?
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