We are only three weeks away from the Australian Open 2021 and his craze has reached its climax. Fans are eagerly waiting for their stars to return to the field as soon as possible, having had to give up tennis for most of 2020. The tournament will take place from February 8, 2021, to February 21, 2021, in Melbourne, Australia.Although Roger Federer has withdrawn from the tournament, there are several other major players who will capture the attention of the fans. Defending champion Novak Djokovic and world number two Rafael Nadal will start as the first and second seed. US Open 2020 winner Dominic Tim, Daniel Medvedev, and Stephanos Tsitsipas will be other players to watch at Grand Slam.When it comes to the WTA tournaments, world number one Ashley Barty will return to the Grand Slam tournament. Naomi Osaka and defending champion Sofia Kenin are other strong contenders for the title. Nevertheless, all eyes will be on the 2020 French Open winner Ija Soyatek and Arena Sabalenka, who record a colossal winning streak.As is often the case, one of the most anticipated questions is: Can Serena Williams lift her 24th Grand Slam title in Melbourne this year?Where can fans enjoy the live-action of the Australian Open 2021?Nine Network is the official broadcasting organization for Grand Slam in Australia after claiming the rights in 2020 for five years. Fans in Australia will be able to watch the action live on Nine Network.In Europe, Eurosport is the exclusive Grand Slam live announcer. Apart from that, SRG (Swiss Broadcasting Corporation) will broadcast the championship in Switzerland, NOS (Nederlandse Omroep Stichting) in the Netherlands, and RTS (Radio Serbia TV) in Serbia.The tennis channel, ESPN 2 and ESPN 3 will broadcast the matches live in the USA.In China, the national CCTV station together with Shanghai TV and Beijing TV will present the event live for the fans. In India, fans will receive live updates on the Sony SIX network, while in Japan, the Australian Open 2021 will be broadcast live on NHK and the pay-TV network WOWOW.Fans all over the world will be able to watch the competition of their favorite players live.Also Read: Australian Open 2021 to Issue Hefty Fine for Protocols Breach
Osaka, who was fined $ 15,000 for not attending a press conference following her first-round win at Roland Garros, may also face suspension from other Grand Slam tournaments.On Sunday, the major tennis tournament board said that Japanese Naomi Osaka may be kicked out of the French Open if she continues to boycott press conferences after the tournament match.The board added that Osaka, who was fined $15,000 for missing a press conference after winning the first round at Roland Garros, may also be suspended from other Grand Slam tournaments.The Grand Slam champion said earlier this week that she would not face the media during the French Open, citing mental health reasons."Naomi Osaka has warned us that if she continues to ignore her obligations to the media during the tournament, she will expose herself to the potential additional consequences of violating the code of conduct," Grand Slam's board of directors said in a statement."It is not surprising that repeated violations lead to tougher penalties, including failure of the tournament and the initiation of a major investigation into a violation that could lead to more heavy fines and the suspension of Grand Slam in the future."The council reminded Osaka that "a key element of the Grand Slam bylaws is the players' responsibility to interact with the media, whatever the outcome of the match.""The mental health of the players who compete in our tournaments and the rounds are of paramount importance in the Grand Slams," he added.Also Read: Villarreal Edge Manchester United In Epic Penalty Shootout To Win Maiden Europa League Title
Naomi Osaka overcame her slow start with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Czech Marie Bouzkova on Monday as the world number three defended her US Open title defense is underway in front of a large crowd. Unseeded Bouzkova held her ground for most of the first set but was unable to seize four break opportunities against the four-time Grand Slam winner of Japan. Osaka, who scored 21 wins but made 13 unforced errors in the first set, broke Bozkova 5-4 to win the opening match and never looked back, winning the first five matches of the second despite struggling with her first serve. The match ended with a winning forehand, she smiles and wave to the stands that were empty a year ago."It feels kind of crazy to play in front of everyone again," Osaka said. "Last year when we didn't have a crowd, I know I felt lonely." The evening was a reassuring comeback for Osaka, who was eliminated by the third round of the Tokyo Olympics and the Western & Southern Open. She said she felt at home at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where she won her first major title three years ago. "I think it might be the court where I've played the most matches in my career," said Osaka. "I'm just glad I won."Also Read- Shooter Avani Lekhara First Indian Woman To Win Gold At Paralympics
