Sports fans in the southern hemisphere are in for a treat in 2023, with the calendar packed with a host of top-class events.
All eyes will be on Australia at the start of the year, as the first tennis Grand Slam of the season is staged at Melbourne Park during January.
There is plenty to look forward to over the following months, with soccer, rugby league and horse racing amongst the other sports hosting major events.
Read on as we take a closer look at what’s in store in the southern hemisphere next year, starting with a two-week tennis extravaganza.
Australian Open – January 16-29
The Australian Open is the perfect way to kick off what promises to be a stellar year of sport in the southern hemisphere.
First staged in 1905, the tournament now attracts more than 700,000 tennis fans each year as well as millions of fans following via live sports streams, all of whom are eager to watch the world’s top players.
Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic will play in the event after missing the 2022 edition and will be on a mission to claim his 22nd Grand Slam.
Djokovic has won the Australian Open on nine previous occasions and will be tough to beat in his quest to add another major title to his CV.
Australian Grand Prix – April 2
Formula 1 returns to Albert Park in Melbourne in early April as the world’s finest drivers compete for glory at the Australian Grand Prix.
The fourth race of the 2023 season promises to be a thrilling affair and could once again produce a surprise result.
Max Verstappen’s retirement in last year’s race opened the door for Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to win the event for the first time in his career.
Verstappen is yet to win in Australia and will be keen to set the record straight to aid his bid to win the Drivers’ Championship for the third successive year.
Women’s Soccer World Cup – July 20 – August 20
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand, the first time the tournament has been staged by two nations.
The event will feature 32 teams for the first-ever time and will receive plenty of coverage on top news sites such as Football Today throughout the event.
New Zealand will feature in the opening match against Norway at Eden Park, Auckland, while the final takes place at Stadium Australia, Sydney.
The United States are the defending champions and are strongly fancied to get their hands on the trophy for the fifth time.
Australian Football League Grand Final – September 30
When a state declares a public holiday on the day before a major sporting event, you know it must be something truly special.
‘Grand Final Friday’ gives friends and family the chance to spend time together ahead of the Australian Football League (AFL) Grand Final the following day.
While Aussie Rules leaves many sports fans worldwide feeling baffled, the final still attracts an estimated 35 million global television audience.
Carlton and Essendon are the joint-most successful clubs in the competition, while the current champions are Geelong who beat Sydney in this year’s final.
National Rugby League Grand Final – October 1
The National Rugby League (NRL) gets its day in the spotlight the following day as the Grand Final takes place at Stadium Australia in Sydney.
The game precedes the Labour Day public holiday on the first Monday in October, creating an epic weekend for sports fans in the southern hemisphere.
Fans can enjoy a super line-up of entertainment before the final gets underway including the ceremonial delivery of the trophy by an Australian Army helicopter.
Penrith Panthers have won the Grand Final in each of the last two seasons, defeating South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2021 and Parramatta Eels this year.
Bathurst 1000 – Date TBA
Join the thousands of fans who make the pilgrimage to Mount Panorama each year to witness one of the most iconic events in the motorsports calendar.
The 1,000-kilometre touring car race is currently staged as part of the Supercars Championship and is widely known as ‘The Great Race’ amongst motorsports fans.
The race was traditionally run on the Labour Day weekend in New South Wales in early October, but has been staged the following weekend since 2001.
With the National Motor Racing Museum is located next to the circuit, a trip to the Bathurst 1000 should be high on every motorsports fan’s wish list.
Melbourne Cup – November 7
Known as ‘the race that stops the nation’ the historic Melbourne Cup is the world’s richest handicap and most lucrative 3,200-metre horse race.
Traditionally staged on the first Tuesday in November, the race has increasingly become an international affair over the past few years.
Several European trainers have won the Melbourne Cup in recent seasons including Charlie Appleby, Joseph O’Brien and Alain de Royer-Dupre.
Held at Flemington Racecourse since it was first run in 1861, the Melbourne Cup is one of the most thrilling sports events of the year.
