MELBOURNE – Novak Djokovic will begin his quest for a record-extending 10th Australian Open tennis title against Roberto Carballes Baena, while top-ranked Iga Swiatek meets Jule Niemeier, following the draw for 2023s first Grand Slam on Thursday.
Serbian star Djokovic, who was deported from Australia a year ago, is also aiming for a record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam crown and he will start against the Spaniard, who is ranked 75th in the world.
In the absence of injured world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, defending champion Rafael Nadal is the top seed and will begin his campaign against Britain’s promising star Jack Draper.
On the women’s side, top seed and world No. 1 Iga Swiatek will meet Germany’s Niemeier as she targets a maiden Grand Slam title in Australia. The Pole could face seventh seed Coco Gauff in the quarter-finals and third seed Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals.
There is an injury cloud hanging over Djokovic after he tweaked his hamstring on the way to winning the season-opening Adelaide International last week. He cut short a practice match on Wednesday to get more treatment.
The 35-year-old was ejected from Australia on the eve of the 2022 tournament over his Covid-19 vaccination stance after a legal battle. He also missed the US Open for similar reasons.
The move divided opinion in Melbourne, a city that endured some of the longest lockdowns in the world at the height of the pandemic. How he is received at the Jan 16-29 Grand Slam remains to be seen.
The fourth seed is due to play a charity match against Australian Nick Kyrgios on Friday evening and could meet him in the quarter-finals if both get that far.
Kyrgios would first potentially have to get past ninth seed Holger Rune and fifth seed Andrey Rublev.
Second seed Casper Ruud, who suffered a shock loss in his first match at the Auckland Classic on Wednesday, was pitted first-up against Czech Tomas Machac.
Daniil Medvedev, finalist at the last two Australian Opens, takes on American Marcos Giron. Third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas has a tough match against France’s Quentin Halys.
Former Grand Slam winner Andy Murray meets Italian Matteo Berrettini in a headline first-round clash, while Rublev is up against former finalist Dominic Thiem.
On the women’s side, second seed Ons Jabeur of Tunisia faces Slovenia’s Tamara Zidansek while American Pegula takes on Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian.
France’s Caroline Garcia, the fourth seed, meets a qualifier or lucky loser while world No. 5 Aryna Sabalenka, who won the Adelaide International I last week, is up against Tereza Martincova of the Czech Republic.
In a bumper first-round clash, former champions Victoria Azarenka and Sofia Kenin will meet.
Meanwhile, Alcaraz will make his return at the Argentina Open in February, the organisers revealed on Wednesday.
The 19-year-old Spaniard last week said he was pulling out of the Australian Open due to a freak leg injury suffered in training.
“The ATP No. 1-ranked player will play in Argentina. He will take part in our tournament for the first time,” the Argentina Open organisers said on Twitter.
That was accompanied by a video in which US Open champion Alcaraz says: “I’m excited to be able to go to Argentina, to play there.”
The ATP 250 Argentina Open is the longest-running South American event on the men’s circuit, having been played consecutively for the last 22 years. It will run from Feb 11-19. AFP, REUTERS
