Emma Raducanu has been handed a tricky path on the Australian Open regardless of being seeded, with world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka probably awaiting within the third spherical.
Raducanu, who performs within the quarter-finals of the Hobart Worldwide on Thursday morning, dwell on Sky Sports activities Tennis, is seeded twenty eighth for the opening Grand Slam of the 12 months and can face Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew within the first spherical.
Austria’s Anastasia Potapova or Netherlands’ Suzan Lamens can be Raducanu’s second-round opponent earlier than a rematch of final 12 months’s Wimbledon conflict in opposition to Sabalenka, which additionally got here within the third spherical.
Pre-tournament favorite Sabalenka will start her marketing campaign for a 3rd Australian Open title in opposition to French wild card Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah whereas six-time main champion Iga Swiatek will play a qualifier, with a possible fourth-round assembly in opposition to Naomi Osaka within the second week.
Britain’s Katie Boulter, who was a last-minute entry into the primary draw, has a tricky opener in opposition to in-form tenth seed Belinda Bencic, whereas Sonay Kartal faces thirty first seed Anna Kalinskaya and Francesca Jones will play a qualifier.
Venus Williams is about to turn into the oldest girl to compete in an Australian Open major draw, surpassing the file of 44 years outdated, beforehand held by Japan’s Kimiko Date, and will face compatriot Coco Gauff if the American duo win their opening matches.
Djokovic in identical half as defending champion Sinner
Novak Djokovic has been drawn in the identical half as defending males’s singles champion Jannik Sinner because the Serbian continues his quest for a twenty fifth Grand Slam.
Djokovic will enter the Australian Open, which he has received a file 10 occasions, with out enjoying aggressive tennis since November after withdrawing from final week’s Adelaide Worldwide.
The 38-year-old reduce quick a follow session in Melbourne as a consequence of a neck drawback on Wednesday, elevating considerations about his health.
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Novak Djokovic’s final aggressive match was on the Athens Open in November
Because the fourth seed, he can’t face Sinner till the semi-finals – the stage he misplaced at every of final 12 months’s 4 majors in 2025 – and can tackle Spain’s Pedro Martinez in his first match.
Reigning champion Sinner goes up in opposition to France’s Hugo Gaston whereas Carlos Alcaraz, who’s seeking to full his profession Grand Slam, performs Australia’s Adam Walton.
Britain’s Cameron Norrie is seeded twenty sixth and takes on France’s Benjamin Bonzi, earlier than a doable third-round tie with third seed Alexander Zverev, whereas Jacob Fearnley will meet Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak.
Large Australian residence hope Alex de Minaur has a tricky first-round draw in opposition to former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini.
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