Novak Djokovic to kick off Australian Open preparations in Adelaide

By SABC Sport
16th December 2025

Novak Djokovic will return to the Adelaide International in January after officials confirmed on Tuesday that the Serbian will use it to build-up to the Australian Open.

The 38-year-old, currently ranked world number four, is targeting an 11th Australian Open title and an elusive 25th Grand Slam crown when the season's first major begins on 18 January at Melbourne Park.

The ATP-WTA Adelaide International, which runs from 12 to 17 January, offers Djokovic valuable competitive preparation ahead of the Melbourne tournament.

Djokovic has strong memories of the event, having competed in Adelaide twice before and lifting the trophy on both occasions, first in 2007 and again in 2023.

His return underlines his continued ambition at the highest level, despite having scaled back his tour schedule since his most recent Grand Slam triumph in 2023.

Although his appearances have been more selective, Djokovic has remained effective when competing. Earlier this year he claimed titles in Geneva and Athens, demonstrating that he remains a significant force on tour as he manages his workload.

The men's field in Adelaide is set to be a competitive one, with Jack Draper, Joao Fonseca, Tommy Paul and Stefanos Tsitsipas all entered alongside Djokovic.

On the women's side, Madison Keys will headline the draw. Keys arrives as the defending Australian Open champion and will be joined by fellow top-10 players Jessica Pegula, Mirra Andreeva and Ekaterina Alexandrova.