One epic fortnight Down Under later, a defending champ retained their Australian Open crown, while a rising star clinched their first-ever Grand Slam title.

After two weeks of shocking upsets and sheer domination Down Under, it’s time to crown the first Grand Slam champions of the year.

The women’s and men’s semifinals are officially set Down Under, highlighted by two defending champs eager to retain their crown.

The Grand Slam Down Under enters its second week in Melbourne, with courtside vibes and IRL visitors hitting all-time highs as the quarter-finals begin.

This adds to Saudi Arabia’s ongoing interest in women’s tennis tournaments like the 2023 and 2024 WTA Finals.

The Australian Open — tennis’ first Grand Slam of the year — began in Melbourne last night, so today, we’re serving up all you need to know as the tourney continues.

After several major plays to host international tennis events, including the WTA Finals, Saudi Arabia had a quiet December for women’s sports moves.

The WTA has faced recent criticism for not supporting its athletes, culminating in a turbulent WTA Finals in Cancun earlier this month.

That sum is equal to what’s on the line at the 2023 Davis Cup Finals, the male-equivalent tournament.

For the second consecutive year, the earnings from the World Cup of women’s tennis are on par with the Davis Cup, the men’s equivalent.

Saudi Arabia is following up its World Cup win with another tournament play — this time, beginning talks with IMG to take over the Miami Open or Mutua Madrid Open.

The ongoing 2023 WTA Finals are serving as a tipping point for tennis’ biggest stars to call out the WTA for poor playing conditions and a lack of athlete protections or guaranteed salaries.