Australian swing 411: Tournament schedule, key dates and top players

The new WTA season kicks off with six tournaments that make up the Australian summer swing, which begins Monday, Jan. 3.

Here's how the Australian Summer played out last season:

Australian Open: [3] Naomi Osaka d. [23] Jennifer Brady, 6-4, 6-3.

Yarra Valley Classic: [1] Ashleigh Barty d. [6] Garbiñe Muguruza, 7-6(3), 6-4
Gippsland Trophy: [7] Elise Mertens d. Kaia Kanepi, 6-4, 6-1
Adelaide International: [5] Iga Swiatek d. [2] Belinda Bencic, 6-2, 6-2

Grampians Trophy: [6] Anett Kontaveit, Ann Li (final abandoned)
Phillip Island Trophy: Daria Kasatkina d. [13] Marie Bouzkova, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2

Week 1: Jan. 3

Adelaide International 1 (WTA 500)

Venue: Memorial Drive
Draw Ceremony: Saturday, Jan. 1, 12 p.m. local
Main Draw begins: Monday, Jan. 3, 11:00 a.m.
Singles Final: Sunday, Jan. 9, NB 4:00 p.m.
Doubles Final: Saturday, Jan. 8, NB 3:30 p.m.

Adelaide will host two WTA events in the first two weeks of the season, with the WTA 500 leading the way. Headlining the tournament are World No.1 and 2020 champion Ashleigh Barty, 2021 Adelaide champion Iga Swiatek, along with No.5 Maria Sakkari and No.8 Paula Badosa. 

Read: Swiatek eyes 'peaceful' return to Adelaide in 2022 kickoff

Melbourne Summer Set 1 & 2 (WTA 250s)

Venue: Melbourne Park
Draw Ceremony: Sunday, Jan. 2
Main Draw begins: Tuesday, Jan. 4, 11:00 a.m.
Singles Finals: Sunday, Jan 9, 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. 
Doubles Finals: Sunday, Jan. 9, 2:00 p.m.

Melbourne Park will host two concurrent WTA 250s during Week 1, where Australian Open defending champion Naomi Osaka is set to return, along with former No.1 Simona Halep. For the complete draw for Melbourne Summer Set 1 click here.  For Melbourne Summer Set 2, click here.

Season Preview: How the return of Barty and Osaka will shape the Aussie Swing

Week 2: Jan. 10

Sydney Tennis Classic (WTA 500)

Venue: Sydney Olympic Park
Draw Ceremony: Saturday, Jan. 8, 4:30 p.m.
Main Draw begins: Monday, Jan. 10
Singles Final: Saturday, Jan. 15, 5:00 p.m.
Doubles Final: Saturday, Jan. 15, 1:00 p.m.

The WTA returns to Sydney Olympic Park for the first time since 2019, with a WTA 500 event topped by Barty and Muguruza. 

Season Preview: Navratilova and Shriver tap Muguruza for big 2022

Adelaide International 2 (WTA 250)

Venue: Memorial Drive
Draw Ceremony: Sunday, Jan. 9, 12:00 p.m.
Main Draw begins: Monday, Jan. 10
Singles Final: Saturday, Jan. 15, 4:00 p.m.
Doubles Final: Friday, Jan. 14, 3:00 p.m.

Weeks 3 and 4: Jan. 17

Australian Open (Grand Slam)

Venue: Melbourne Park
Key Withdrawals: Karolina Pliskova, Bianca Andreescu and Serena Williams
Draw Ceremony: Thursday, Jan. 13
Main Draw begins: Monday, Jan. 17
Singles Final: Saturday, Jan. 29, 7:30 p.m.
Doubles Final: Sunday, Jan. 30, 3:00 p.m.

The first major of the season will miss out on the star power of Serena Williams, Bianca Andreescu and Karolina Pliskova, but the entry list remains jam-packed. Come back at the conclusion of Week 1 for a complete breakdown of the seedings and storylines.