Sinner starts Australian Open title defence against Jarry, Sabalenka faces Stephens
Djokovic faces thorny path in bid for 11th crown and 25th Grand Slam
09 January 2025 - 17:14
bySHRIVATHSA SRIDHAR
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Melbourne - Jannik Sinner starts begins his Australian Open title defence against Nicolas Jarry while women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka takes on 2017 US Open winner Sloane Stephens after the draw was made for the year’s first Grand Slam at Melbourne Park on Thursday.
Novak Djokovic launches his latest bid for a record-extending 11th Australian Open title and 25th Grand Slam crown against US wild card Nishesh Basavareddy, though his path to the Melbourne Park final will not be an easy one.
In the third round Djokovic could face Reilly Opelka, the big-serving American who beat the Serb in Brisbane this week, while third seed Carlos Alcaraz is a potential opponent in the quarterfinals.
Spaniard Alcaraz, who added the French Open trophy to his collection in 2024, begins his campaign to capture the only Grand Slam to have eluded him when he meets Alexander Shevchenko.
World No 1 Sinner must hit the ground running after being paired with Chilean Jarry, who beat the Italian in their first meeting in 2019 and took him to three sets in a losing effort in Beijing in 2024.
Women’s second seed Iga Swiatek plays Katerina Siniakova while third seed Coco Gauff faces an early challenge against fellow American Sofia Kenin, the Australian Open champion in 2020.
Paris Olympics gold medallist Zheng Qinwen, runner-up in 2024, meets a qualifier first up and is on a collision course with Sabalenka in the quarterfinals.
Two-times champion Naomi Osaka meets Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia in a rematch of their first-round encounter in 2024, which the Japanese player lost in straight sets shortly after her return to the tour from a long maternity break.
There are question marks over Osaka’s fitness, however, after an abdominal injury forced her to quit while leading Clara Tauson in her first WTA final in almost three years in Auckland on Sunday.
Australia’s Nick Kyrgios, who has struggled with injuries since losing to Djokovic in the 2022 Wimbledon final, is due to take on Jacob Fearnley but his return to Melbourne Park remains in doubt due to an abdominal strain.
Fellow Australian Alex de Minaur has a difficult opener against Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, who stunned Alcaraz at last year’s US Open.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Sinner starts Australian Open title defence against Jarry, Sabalenka faces Stephens
Djokovic faces thorny path in bid for 11th crown and 25th Grand Slam
Melbourne - Jannik Sinner starts begins his Australian Open title defence against Nicolas Jarry while women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka takes on 2017 US Open winner Sloane Stephens after the draw was made for the year’s first Grand Slam at Melbourne Park on Thursday.
Novak Djokovic launches his latest bid for a record-extending 11th Australian Open title and 25th Grand Slam crown against US wild card Nishesh Basavareddy, though his path to the Melbourne Park final will not be an easy one.
In the third round Djokovic could face Reilly Opelka, the big-serving American who beat the Serb in Brisbane this week, while third seed Carlos Alcaraz is a potential opponent in the quarterfinals.
Spaniard Alcaraz, who added the French Open trophy to his collection in 2024, begins his campaign to capture the only Grand Slam to have eluded him when he meets Alexander Shevchenko.
World No 1 Sinner must hit the ground running after being paired with Chilean Jarry, who beat the Italian in their first meeting in 2019 and took him to three sets in a losing effort in Beijing in 2024.
Women’s second seed Iga Swiatek plays Katerina Siniakova while third seed Coco Gauff faces an early challenge against fellow American Sofia Kenin, the Australian Open champion in 2020.
Paris Olympics gold medallist Zheng Qinwen, runner-up in 2024, meets a qualifier first up and is on a collision course with Sabalenka in the quarterfinals.
Two-times champion Naomi Osaka meets Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia in a rematch of their first-round encounter in 2024, which the Japanese player lost in straight sets shortly after her return to the tour from a long maternity break.
There are question marks over Osaka’s fitness, however, after an abdominal injury forced her to quit while leading Clara Tauson in her first WTA final in almost three years in Auckland on Sunday.
Australia’s Nick Kyrgios, who has struggled with injuries since losing to Djokovic in the 2022 Wimbledon final, is due to take on Jacob Fearnley but his return to Melbourne Park remains in doubt due to an abdominal strain.
Fellow Australian Alex de Minaur has a difficult opener against Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, who stunned Alcaraz at last year’s US Open.
The main draw gets under way on Sunday.
Reuters
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