MELBOURNE, Australia — In a significant turn of events for the Australian Open, defending champion Jannik Sinner and the ten-time titleholder Novak Djokovic have been placed in opposite halves of the tournament draw, ensuring they won’t face off as they did in last year’s semifinals.
Sinner, who created a stir by defeating Djokovic in the semifinals last year, then triumphed over Daniil Medvedev in a gripping final with a score of 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3, secured his first-ever Grand Slam title. As the top seed, Sinner is set to face Nicolas Jarry in the first round, and he also has formidable competitors such as Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, and Medvedev in his quarter. Fritz will kick off his campaign against fellow American, Jenson Brooksby.
On the other side, Djokovic, who is seeded second, could potentially meet No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals, with a possible semifinal battle against No. 2 Alexander Zverev. This draw was unveiled during a ceremony at the Margaret Court Arena on Thursday, where both Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka, another defending champion, made an appearance holding their respective trophies.
Sabalenka successfully defended her title in 2024 at Melbourne Park, overcoming Zheng Qinwen with a straight-sets victory of 6-3, 6-2. She aims for a third consecutive women’s singles title, a feat last achieved by Martina Hingis between 1997 and 1999. Sabalenka faces a challenging opening match against 2017 U.S. Open winner Sloane Stephens, while also contending in her section with 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva and Zheng.
“I hold a multitude of wonderful memories from this place, and returning here as a two-time champion is certainly special,” Sabalenka expressed during the draw ceremony, having just clinched the Brisbane International title. “I aspire to maintain my performance level while in Australia.”
Coco Gauff, the third seed, presents a potential semifinal threat to Sabalenka. Gauff’s first-round draw poses a significant challenge against former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, and she shares her section with four-time major winner Naomi Osaka and seventh-seeded Jessica Pegula.
Meanwhile, the other half of the draw features Iga Swiatek, the No. 2 seed, alongside 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina. The Australian Open is set to commence on Sunday morning in Melbourne (Saturday night EST in the U.S.) and will run for a total of 15 days.
In the backdrop of the tournament, discussions continue surrounding doping allegations linked to both Sinner and Swiatek, a topic that has permeated the tennis community throughout 2024.
There’s also plenty of buzz among fans ahead of the matches. Djokovic will be competing in his first tournament with new coach Andy Murray, who was once his rival on the court and is a three-time major champion. Holding the record for the most men’s titles at Melbourne Park, Djokovic mentioned he is still reeling from the trauma of missing a year due to participation restrictions.
Additionally, Nick Kyrgios, the runner-up at Wimbledon in 2022, opted out of an exhibition against Djokovic this week due to an abdominal strain. He is slated to face Jacob Fearnley in the opening round, provided he is fit to compete in his first major since the 2022 U.S. Open. Kyrgios finds himself in the same section as Zverev.
