MELBOURNE, Australia — Defending champion Jannik Sinner and 10-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic have landed in reverse sides of the draw for the season’s first main, ruling out a replay of final yr’s semifinal match.
Sinner upset Djokovic within the semifinals right here final yr earlier than coming again to beat Daniil Medvedev within the closing 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 for his first Grand Slam singles title.
High-ranked Sinner has a first-round match towards Nicolas Jarry and likewise has Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton and Medvedev in his half of the draw. Fritz will open towards fellow American Jenson Brooksby.
Djokovic and No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz might meet within the quarterfinals, with a attainable semifinal towards No. 2 Alexander Zverev.
At Thursday’s draw to set the brackets for the singles fields, defending champions Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka walked into the official ceremony holding their trophies.
Sabalenka gained her second consecutive title at Melbourne Park in 2024 by defeating Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 6-2 within the closing. Sabalenka will likely be making an attempt to win a 3rd straight ladies’s singles title at Melbourne Park, one thing final completed by Martina Hingis from 1997 to 1999.
Sabalenka drew a tricky opening match towards 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens, and Sabalenka has 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva and Zheng in her part.
“I’ve lots of nice recollections, and to be again right here … as a two-time Australian Open champion, it is positively one thing particular,” Sabalenka, who gained the Brisbane Worldwide title final week, stated on the draw ceremony. “I hope that I can preserve doing what I am doing right here in Australia.”
Third-seeded Coco Gauff is a possible semifinal rival for Sabalenka. Gauff has a difficult first-round match towards former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin and is in the identical part of the draw as four-time main winner Naomi Osaka and seventh-seeded Jessica Pegula.
No. 2 Iga Swiatek and 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina are within the different half of the draw.
The Australian Open begins Sunday morning in Melbourne (Saturday night time ET within the U.S.) and can run for 15 days.
Doping and the instances involving Swiatek and Sinner (whose continues to be not totally resolved) was a subject that shadowed tennis in 2024 and continues to be a speaking level in Melbourne.
There’s lots else for followers to speak about.
Djokovic will likely be enjoying in his first occasion alongside new coach Andy Murray, his former on-court rival and a three-time main champion. No one has gained the boys’s title at Melbourne Park extra typically than Djokovic, though he stated he nonetheless feels trauma from the one yr he wasn’t allowed to play.
Nick Kyrgios, the 2022 Wimbledon runner-up who withdrew from an exhibition towards Djokovic this week due to an belly pressure, will face Jacob Fearnley within the first spherical if the mercurial Australian is match sufficient to contest his first main for the reason that 2022 US Open. Kyrgios is in the identical part as Zverev.