Jannik Sinner will begin his Australian Open title defence against France’s Hugo Gaston after Thursday’s draw, setting up a potential blockbuster semi-final clash with 10-time champion Novak Djokovic.
The Italian world number one, who defeated Alexander Zverev in straight sets to lift the title last year, is chasing a third consecutive major crown. If successful, the 24-year-old would join Djokovic as the only men in the Open era to win three Grand Slam titles in a row. Sinner later went on to add Wimbledon and the ATP Finals to his trophy haul, cementing his status at the top of the men’s game.
Djokovic, targeting a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title, will open his campaign against Spain’s Pedro Martinez, ranked 71st in the world.
“The draw is very difficult, it doesn’t matter who you play,” Sinner said at the draw ceremony. “We are the best players in the world and the road is very long. We will take it day by day.”
World number one Carlos Alcaraz will launch his bid for a first Australian Open title and a career Grand Slam against Australia’s Adam Walton. The Spaniard is on the same side of the draw as last year’s finalist Zverev, with the pair projected to meet in the semi-finals.
Zverev, currently ranked third, faces a challenging opening match against big-serving Canadian Gabriel Diallo. Sixth seed Alex de Minaur is also set for a tough first-round test against Italy’s Matteo Berrettini, a former world number six and 2022 semi-finalist in Melbourne.
In the women’s draw, defending champion Madison Keys will begin her title defence against Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova. World number one Aryna Sabalenka opens against French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah.
Keys claimed her first Grand Slam title last year by defeating Sabalenka in a dramatic three-set final. However, she did not add another title in the remainder of the season and enters this year’s tournament as the world number nine, with increased expectations as the defending champion.
Sabalenka and world number three Coco Gauff are drawn in the same half and could meet in the semi-finals. Gauff will start her campaign against Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova and may face 45-year-old Venus Williams, who has received a wildcard, in the second round.
Second seed and six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek will face a qualifier in the opening round and could meet fourth seed Amanda Anisimova in the semi-finals. While Swiatek has won the French Open, US Open and Wimbledon, she is yet to progress beyond the semi-finals at the Australian Open.
The Australian Open gets underway on Sunday in Melbourne.
