Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are in contention for the ATP no. 1 singles ranking at the start of the tournament. Nadal can only regain the top ranking if he wins the title and Djokovic fails to reach the fourth round.
This will be the first Australian Open since 1976 to feature a final set tie-break. A 10-point tie-break will be played upon reaching 6–6 in the fifth set.
It will be the last Australian Open appearance of five-time finalist Andy Murray, and possibly his last tournament ever, as he announced that he will retire from tennis no later than after the 2019 Wimbledon Championships.[1]