Novak Djokovic handed tough Australian Open draw, Jannik Sinner faces Nicolas Jarry test

MELBOURNE – World No. 1 Jannik Sinner was drawn on Jan 9 against big-hitting Nicolas Jarry to start his Australian Open defence, while Novak Djokovic is on a collision course to meet Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals.

Italy’s Sinner defeated Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in the 2024 final in Melbourne to secure his first Grand Slam title and went on to add the US Open and ATP Finals crowns to his collection.

He will be hoping to build on the momentum, but the top seed will begin his title defence under a doping cloud after twice testing positive for traces of the steroid clostebol in March.

Sinner was exonerated by the International Tennis Integrity Agency but is anxiously awaiting the outcome of an appeal against the decision by the World Anti-Doping Agency, which is seeking a ban of up to two years.

The Italian must maintain his focus and hit the ground running, after being paired with Chilean Jarry, who beat him in their first meeting in 2019 and took him to three sets in a losing effort in Beijing last season.

The 23-year-old could then meet Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas or Australian Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals, and Medvedev again but this time in the semis.

Djokovic launches his latest bid for a record-extending 11th Australian Open title and 25th Grand Slam crown against American wild card Nishesh Basavareddy, but his path to the Melbourne Park final will not be an easy one.

The Serb is seeded to meet world No. 10 Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria in the fourth round and Spain’s Alcaraz in the last eight, before a potential clash with German Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals.

Alcaraz, who added the French Open trophy to his collection in 2024 but lost Olympic gold to Djokovic, begins his campaign to capture the one Grand Slam that has eluded him when he meets Alexander Shevchenko.

The Kazakh scored a confidence-boosting win over world No. 11 Tsitsipas at the recent United Cup tournament, so he will not be an easy opponent as well.

Zverev will meet French wild card Lucas Pouille.

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios, who has struggled with injuries since losing to Djokovic in the 2022 Wimbledon final, is due to take on Briton Jacob Fearnley but his return to Melbourne Park remains in doubt due to an abdominal strain.

In the women’s draw, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus kicks off her title defence against American former US Open winner Sloane Stephens.

The top seed is looking to become the first woman since retired Swiss great Martina Hingis (1997-99) to win three consecutive titles.

World No. 3 Coco Gauff also faces a tricky start, as the 20-year-old American takes on compatriot Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion.

But second seed Iga Swiatek was handed an easier assignment against Czech doubles specialist Katerina Siniakova, ranked 46th in the world. However, the Polish star has sixth seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan and American eighth seed Emma Navarro in her half of the draw.

Paris Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen of China, runner-up last season, meets a qualifier first up and is on a collision course with Sabalenka in the last eight.

Two-time Grand Slam runner-up and fourth seed Jasmine Paolini also takes on a qualifier.

In another notable match, four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka opens against Caroline Garcia in a repeat of last year’s first-round clash – which the Japanese lost in straight sets shortly after her return from a long maternity break. There are question marks over Osaka’s fitness, after an abdominal injury forced her to quit while leading Clara Tauson in her first WTA final in almost three years in Auckland on Jan 5.

Should all go to plan, Sabalenka could meet Gauff in the semis, with Swiatek projected to face Paolini in the last four.

The Australian Open starts on Jan 12. AFP, REUTERS