Novak Djokovic, Zheng Qinwen, Andy Murray & Belinda Bencic to feature in all-Olympics gold medalist charity clash at Australian Open

On 31st December the Australian Open announced that throughout AO Opening Week, a series of charity matches presented by Herald Sun would be held at Rod Laver Arena, pitting stars of the game against one another. They would include a number of singles matches and a mixed doubles encounter scheduled from January 7 - 10.

The singles matches proposed were: Zheng Qinwen v Elina Svitolina; Carlos Alcaraz v Alex de Minaur; Carlos Alcaraz v Alexei Popyrin; Jannik Sinner v Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Organizers have also announced that a mixed doubles match will be played on January 9th, which will see four Olympic gold medalists, Novak Djokovic and Qinwen Zheng face Andy Murray and Belinda Bencic in the event called 'A Night with Novak.'

Djokovic won the 2024 men's gold and Murray clinched the medals in 2012 and 2016. Meanwhile, Belinda Bencic won the ladies' event in 2021, and Qinwen Zheng in 2024.

37-year-old Novak Djokovic is seeking his 25th major in Melbourne and his 11th Australian Open title. He last took home the title in 2023 and will be looking to wrestle it back from Jannik Sinner over the next fortnight. The recently retired Murray, also 37, is now on Djokovic's coaching staff and will return to the venue where he suffered five Australian Open final defeats.

Qinweng Zheng, 22, is a rapidly developing Chinese talent and will be looking to improve on her run to last year's runner-up finish at the Australian Open, where she was beaten convincingly 6-3, 6-2 by World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.

Belinda Bencic, 27, the 2021 Olympic gold medal winner and former World No.4 completes the matchup. The Swiss reached the fourth round in Melbourne in 2016 and 2023 but has since dropped to 421.

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The A.O charity clash offers a great opportunity to practice in the Rod Laver Arena

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Playing a match on the hallowed Rod Laver court in Melbourne will only serve the players well in their quest to get in shape for the tournament proper, which gets underway on the 13th of January. While Novak Djokovic has dropped to No. 7 in the ATP rankings, he will nonetheless draw confidence from his historic achievements in Australia.

Qinwen Zheng will also use the charity events to sharpen her tools in hopes of repeating her 2024 success. She's been a quarterfinalist at the US Open in 2023 and 2024 and is familiar with the hardcourt surface. The 22-year-old's first major title should not be far away.

All proceeds generated by the matches go towards supporting a range of charities through the Australian Tennis Foundation.