Five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova was given a wild card entry to the Australian Open. Russian women's tennis star Sharapova is trying to get her career back on track after suffering injuries in 2019. Australian Open 2008 winner Sharapova slipped to 147th place in the world rankings and suffered a first round loss in Brisbane International this week. However, once again she will be seen playing in Melbourne Park. Sharapova called the Australian Open a special place. On the other hand, Sharapova has criticized the Brisbane International tournament as a second-hand tournament.

Tennis Australia announced last week that an exhibition match will be held on 15 January at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, the center court of the tournament, before the start of the Australia Open. The players were announced on Wednesday, including Federer, Serena and Nadal, along with Japan's Naomi Osaka, Caroline Wozniacki, Nick Kyrgios and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Star tennis players Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal will play a charity match before the Australian Open, through which funds will be raised to help victims of Australia's wildfires. Australian Open organizers gave this information on Wednesday. The forests of Australia have caught fire since September, killing 25 people and destroying over 1800 homes.