Djokovic and Sinner Learn Their Opponents Following Australian Open Draws
Tennis superstars Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner have now known their first round opponents after draws for the 2025 Australian Open has been made.
World number one Jannik Sinner will face Chile’s big-hitting Nicolas Jarry in his opening match as he defends his Australian Open title. The Italian won his first Grand Slam last year in Melbourne, defeating Daniil Medvedev in the final, before also claiming the US Open and ATP Finals trophies.
However, Sinner’s title defence comes amid controversy. He has been involved in a doping case after testing positive for traces of the steroid clostebol in March. Although he was cleared by the International Tennis Integrity Agency, the World Anti-Doping Agency has appealed the decision, and the matter remains unresolved.
The 23-year-old could meet Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas or Australian Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals and Medvedev in the semi-finals.
Novak Djokovic, who is looking to win a record 11th Australian Open and 25th Grand Slam title, faces a tough path. The Serbian drew American wildcard Nishesh Basavareddy in his first match but is expected to meet world number 10 Grigor Dimitrov in round four. In the quarter-finals, Djokovic is likely to face Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, with a potential semi-final clash against Alexander Zverev.
Alcaraz starts his tournament against Kazakhstan’s Alexander Shevchenko, who recently defeated world number 11 Tsitsipas at the United Cup. Zverev, meanwhile, will play French wildcard Lucas Pouille.
In the women’s draw, world number one Aryna Sabalenka will begin her title defence against American Sloane Stephens. Sabalenka is aiming to become the first woman since Martina Hingis in 1999 to win three consecutive Australian Open titles.
Third-seed Coco Gauff will have a challenging start, facing 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin. Second seed Iga Swiatek, on the other hand, faces Czech doubles specialist Katerina Siniakova, who is ranked 46th, in what is considered an easier first-round match.
Swiatek’s path could become tougher as she is in the same half of the draw as sixth-seed Elena Rybakina and eighth-seed Emma Navarro. Fourth-seed Jasmine Paolini will play a qualifier, as will fifth-seed Zheng Qinwen, who lost to Sabalenka in last year’s final.
In another notable match, four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka will face Caroline Garcia, in a repeat of their first-round encounter last year, which Garcia won.
If all goes to plan, Sabalenka could meet Zheng in the quarter-finals and Gauff in the semis, while Swiatek might face Paolini in the last four.
The 2025 Australian Open begins this Sunday with Djokovic and Sinner among the favourites for the crown.
