Defending champion Jannik Sinner and 10-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic have been positioned on reverse sides of the draw for this 12 months’s first Grand Slam, guaranteeing there will probably be no repeat of their thrilling semifinal conflict from final 12 months.
Sinner shocked Djokovic within the semifinals earlier than rallying to say his maiden Grand Slam singles title, defeating Daniil Medvedev 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 in a memorable last.
The top-ranked Sinner faces Nicolas Jarry within the first spherical and also will take care of Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, and Medvedev in his quarter. Fritz, in the meantime, opens in opposition to fellow American Jenson Brooksby.
Djokovic and No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz might meet within the quarterfinals, with a possible semifinal conflict in opposition to No. 2 Alexander Zverev.
At Thursday’s draw to set the singles brackets, defending champions Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka walked into the official ceremony on the steps of Margaret Court Arena holding their trophies.
Sabalenka gained her second consecutive title at Melbourne Park in 2024 by defeating Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 6-2. She will probably be making an attempt to win a 3rd consecutive ladies’s singles title at Melbourne Park, a feat final completed by Martina Hingis from 1997 to 1999.
Sabalenka faces a troublesome opening match in opposition to 2017 U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens and has 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva and Zheng in her part.
“I have a lot of great memories, and to be back here… as a two-time Australian Open champion, it’s definitely something special,” said Sabalenka, who won the Brisbane International title last week. “I hope that I can preserve doing what I’m doing right here in Australia.”
Third-seeded Coco Gauff is a possible semifinal rival for Sabalenka. Gauff faces a difficult first-round match in opposition to 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 EST within the U.S.) and can run for 15 days.
Doping instances involving Sinner, that are nonetheless unresolved, and Swiatek have shadowed tennis in 2024 and stay a speaking level in Melbourne.
There’s lots else for followers to debate.
Djokovic will probably be taking part 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, although he mentioned he nonetheless feels trauma from the one 12 months he wasn’t allowed to play.
Nick Kyrgios, the 2022 Wimbledon runner-up who withdrew from an exhibition in opposition to Djokovic this week as a result of an stomach pressure, will face Jacob Fearnley within the first spherical if the mercurial Australian is match sufficient to contest his first main because the 2022 U.S. Open. Kyrgios is in the identical part as Zverev.
Source: www.dailysabah.com