Big names—Rafael Nadal, Naomi Osaka, Emma Raducanu—return in Brisbane and Auckland

Typically a new tennis season starts with something less than a bang. Hardcore fans know to begin tuning in for late-night broadcasts from Down Under around New Year’s Eve, but the rest of the world doesn’t follow along until the Australian Open proper begins two weeks later.

This year interest is considerably higher right away, primarily because of two players: Rafael Nadal and Naomi Osaka. The former No. 1s and multi-time Grand Slam champions are making their returns to the tour this weekend in Brisbane. Nadal is entering what may be his final season, while Osaka is coming back as a new mom. Neither has played in a year.

Here’s a look at how their draws shape up in Brisbane—as well as those of everyone else in tournament action on this opening week of 2024. (United cup, a round-robin, dual-gender, international team event, is also taking place.) That includes a third major-champion returnee, Emma Raducanu, who will play her first event since April, in Auckland.

Brisbane International (ATP)

• Brisbane, Australia
• $739,845; ATP 250
• Hard court
• Draw is HERE

Who does Rafa play to start what may be his swan-song season? His first appearance will be in doubles, with former partner and current coach Marc Lopez. In singles, all we know so far is that he’ll face a qualifier or lucky loser. If Nadal wins that match, he’ll play either Aslan Karatsev of Russia or Aussie wild card Jason Kubler. He’s never played either.

Also in Rafa’s half are Ugo Humbert, Grigor Dimitrov and two Aussies, Jordan Thompson and Thanasi Kokkinakis. How might Rafa do? Expectations won’t be high, but two years ago he returned from a break and immediately won an Aussie tune-up event in Melbourne.

In non-Nadal news, Holger Rune is the No. 1 seed, and in his half are two young, seeded Americans looking to have big seasons, Sebastian Korda and Ben Shelton.

First-round matches to watch:

• Dimitrov vs. Andy Murray
• Shelton vs. Roman Safiullin, who finished his 2023 with a win over Carlos Alcaraz in Bercy

Brisbane International (WTA)

• Brisbane, Australia
• $1,736,739; WTA 500
• Hard court
• Draw is HERE

The Brisbane men’s event has the biggest name, in Nadal. But the women’s event is the bigger tournament. It’s a 500, instead of a 250. It has a 48-player draw, instead of a 32. There’s a million more dollars in prize money on the line. And it has a Top 20-heavy field led by Grand Slam champions Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina and Jelena Ostapenko.

For the moment, though, everyone else will take a back seat to Osaka. The two-time Australian Open winner will start on Sunday against 84th-ranked Tamara Korpatsch of Germany. We’ll see how ready she is for competition, but you feel like Osaka, who obviously loves hard courts, will have something to prove again this season. If she beats Korpatsch, she’ll get a crack at Karolina Pliskova.

ASB Classic (WTA)

• Auckland, New Zealand
• $257,082; WTA 250
• Hard court
• Draw is HERE

If expectations are low for Nadal and Osaka, they’re going to be sky high for the game’s newest Grand Slam champion, Coco Gauff. She lost one of the coaches who led her to victory at the US Open, Pere Riba, but Auckland will still be her tournament to lose. Gauff is easily the highest-ranked player in the draw.

Elsewhere, two women of note will be making returns: Emma Raducanu, who last played in April, and Amanda Anisimova, who last played in May.

First-round match to watch: Elina Svitolina vs. Caroline Wozniacki

Bank of Hong Kong China Tennis Open (ATP)

• Hong Kong
• $739,545; ATP 500
• Hard court
• Draw is HERE

Hong Kong has a comeback artist of its own: Marin Cilic. The 35-year-old played just two events in 2023; he’ll start his 2024 with a match against Jan-Lennard Struff.

Otherwise, this tournament has a solid draw for an opening-week 250. Andrey Rublev is the top seed, followed by Karen Khachanov, Frances Tiafoe and Francisco Cerundolo.

Tiafoe, in particular, will be of interest, as he arrives with new coach, Diego Moyano. We’ll see if the American can build on the progress he made with Wayne Ferreira over the last three years.