World primary Jannik Sinner was drawn Thursday towards big-hitting Nicolas Jarry to start out his Australian Open defence whereas Novak Djokovic is on a collision course to fulfill Carlos Alcaraz within the quarter-finals.
Italy’s Sinner defeated Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in final yr’s remaining in Melbourne to safe his first main and went on so as to add the US Open and ATP Finals crowns to his assortment.
However the high seed will start his title defence underneath a doping cloud after twice testing optimistic for traces of the steroid clostebol in March.
He was exonerated by the Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company however is awaiting the result of an enchantment by the World Anti-Doping Company.
The 23-year-old might meet Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas or Australian Alex de Minaur within the quarter-finals, and Medvedev within the semis.
Serbia’s Djokovic drew American wildcard Nishesh Basavareddy to start out however has an enormous job in entrance of him to win an eleventh Australian Open and document twenty fifth Grand Slam.
He’s seeded to fulfill world quantity 10 Grigor Dimitrov in spherical 4 and Spain’s Alcaraz within the final eight, earlier than a possible conflict with Alexander Zverev within the semi-finals.
Alcaraz will get underneath method towards Kazakhstan’s Alexander Shevchenko, who scored a confidence-boosting win over world quantity 11 Tsitsipas on the latest United Cup match.
Zverev will meet French wildcard Lucas Pouille.
Within the girls’s draw, world primary Aryna Sabalenka kicks off her title defence towards American former US Open winner Sloane Stephens.
The Belarusian high seed is trying to grow to be the primary lady since Martina Hingis (1997-99) to win three consecutive titles.
World quantity three Coco Gauff additionally faces a difficult begin, towards 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin.
However second seed Iga Swiatek was handed a better project towards Czech doubles specialist Katerina Siniakova, ranked 46.
Nonetheless, the Polish star has sixth seed Elena Rybakina and eighth seed Emma Navarro in her half of the draw.
Two-time main runner-up and fourth seed Jasmine Paolini takes on a qualifier, as does Chinese language fifth seed Zheng Qinwen, who misplaced to Sabalenka in final yr’s remaining.
In one other notable match, four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka opens towards Caroline Garcia in a repeat of final yr’s first spherical conflict that the French participant gained.
Ought to all go to plan, Sabalenka might meet Zheng within the quarter-finals and Gauff within the semis, with Swiatek projected to face Paolini within the final 4.
The Australian Open begins Sunday.
