MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic will begin his quest for a record-extending 11th Australian Open title and 25th Grand Slam crown overall against a qualifier and could meet fellow Grand Slam champion Andy Murray in the third round, while top-ranked Iga Swiatek faces a tricky test against 2020 champion Sofia Kenin, after the draw on Thursday.
Djokovic required treatment for a wrist problem during his United Cup defeat by Alex de Minaur last week — his first loss in Australia for six years — and can put that disappointment behind him with a fast start at his most successful major.
The 36-year-old Serb could play Greek seventh seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals in what would be a mouthwatering rematch of last year’s title clash.
Tsitsipas has a tough task to repeat his 2023 feat with former top 10 Italian Matteo Berrettini his opening opponent, while twice-finalist Daniil Medvedev will start against a qualifier.
The Russian could face 27th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the third round, with the Canadian facing a stern opening test against former world number three Dominic Thiem.
Spanish world number two Carlos Alcaraz, the only man to beat Djokovic at a Slam last year to win Wimbledon, gets his campaign under way against French veteran Richard Gasquet.
The 20-year-old second seed is on course for a quarter-final clash with the rejuvenated Alexander Zverev, who goes up against fellow German Dominik Koepfer.
Australia’s De Minaur will spearhead local hopes and begins his campaign against Canadian former world number three Milos Raonic.
Italian youngster Jannik Sinner, who is tipped to go deep at Melbourne Park, will face Botic van de Zandschulp.
Defending women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka also takes on a qualifier first while 2023 runner-up Elena Rybakina, who downed the world number two in the final of the tune-up tournament in Brisbane, faces former world number one Karolina Pliskova.
Polish top seed Swiatek will open her account with a blockbuster rematch of the 2020 Roland Garros final that she won against Kenin.
There will be no let-up for whoever wins, with a second round clash looming against either 2016 Australian Open winner Angelique Kerber or 2022 Melbourne Park finalist Danielle Collins.
US Open champion Coco Gauff will take on Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, while four-times major winner Naomi Osaka returns to Grand Slam tennis for the first time since 2022 and plays Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia in a tricky opener.
Osaka, who won the title in 2019 and 2021, only returned to action at Brisbane having spent 15 months on the sidelines and giving birth to her first child in July.
Wild card Caroline Wozniacki, another former champion and returning mother, will play 20th seed Magda Linette.
Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2024
