Jannik Sinner will launch the defense of his title at the Australian Open against the Chilean Nicolas Jarry, 34th in the world, according to the draw made Thursday, January 9, which reserved a difficult course for the Serbian legend Novak Djokovic, in search of ‘one twenty-fifth Major.
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The Italian Jannik Sinner, world number 1, inherited a first round, from Sunday, relatively difficult, facing a 29-year-old opponent whom he has only faced twice, for a balanced record (1-1).
But Sinner23, who followed this first Grand Slam coronation last year with triumphs at the US Open and then at the Masters in particular, would then have the path clear with the only Holger Rune (number 13) on the path leading to the quarters of final. In theory, he would meet the Russian Daniil Medvedev in the semi, whom he beat last year in the final.
If the Italian player clearly dominates the circuit, he also remains under the threat of a case of suspected dopingafter the discovery, twice in March 2024, of minute traces of clostebol (steroid) in his body. Sinner was completely cleared by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (Itia) but the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has appealed and a decision is awaited.
Things look tough for Novak Djokovic
In the lower part of the table, the matter looks much more difficult for Novak Djokovicwho at 37 is aiming for a record twenty-fifth Grand Slam title, and a tenth in Melbourne, his favorite Major.
After rounds a priori within his reach, the first of which against the young American Nishesh Basavareddy, 133rd in the ATP, the Serbian, who is coming out of a 2024 season without a Grand Slam triumph – a first since 2017 – will encounter heavy : in 8th, he could find the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (number 10), then the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz (number 3) in the quarters and the German Alexander Zverev (number 2) in the semi-finals.
Before a possible reunion with “Nole”, Alcaraz will have to dismiss the Kazakh Alexander Shevchenko, who recently beat Stefanos Tsitsipas (N.11) during the United Cup. Still looking for a first Grand Slam title at 27, Zverev will begin his career against Frenchman Lucas Pouille, recipient of an invitation.
Among the strong French delegation, note the clash of generations planned for the first round between Gaël Monfils, 38 years old and former world number 6, and the ambitious Giovanni Mpetshi-Perricard (21 years old), seeded number 30.
One of the attractions of the tournament, local star Nick Kyrgios, is due to start against Briton Jacob Fearnley, 86th in the world, but the 29-year-old Australian was injured again in early January, in his abdominals, and his presence is uncertain.
Tough draw for Aryna Sabalenka
In the women’s draw, fate has not been particularly kind to world number 1 Aryna Sabalenka since she will face in the first round the winner of the 2017 US Open, the American Sloane Stephens, 66th in the world. Not enough to give a cold sweat to the Belarusian, who has already won a title – her 18th – in Brisbane this month and is aiming for a third consecutive victory in Melbourne, a feat which has not been achieved since Martina Hingis (1997 to 99).
On the other hand, the road promises to rise frankly to the quarter-finals with the Chinese Zheng Qinwen, finalist last year, then Coco Gauff in the semi-finals. Just like Sabalenka, the American, seeded number 3, will begin her journey against a former Grand Slam winner, her compatriot Sofia Kenin, currently 81st but who triumphed in Melbourne in 2020.
The world number 2, Iga Swiatek, who had a turbulent end to the 2024 season, will face the Czech Katerina Siniakova (46th). Then the Pole could find the Kazakh Elena Rybakina (N.6) or the Italian Jasmine Paolini (N.4) for a place in the final.
In the 1st round, the clash between the French Caroline Garcia, former world number 4, and Naomi Osaka, the former number 1, attracts attention. But doubt remains over the presence of the Japanese star who had to withdraw from the final of the Auckland tournament on Sunday due to a “ abdominal injury “.