Australian Open Draws Unveiled: Swiatek Faces Tough Opener, Djokovic Pursues 11th Title in Stellar Lineup
In a formidable start to her Australian Open campaign, top-ranked Iga Swiatek is set to confront 2020 champion Sofia Kenin in the opening round, with a potential showdown against 2016 winner Angelique Kerber or Danielle Collins in the second round.
Meanwhile, defending champion Novak Djokovic aims for an unprecedented 11th title, commencing his journey against a qualifier with the prospect of facing Andy Murray in the third round and last year’s runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals.
Thursday’s draw revealed the return of former champions Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber, and Caroline Wozniacki to Melbourne Park after maternity breaks, setting the stage for intense opening rounds.
Osaka, a two-time Australian Open and US Open titlist, will kick off against No. 16 Caroline Garcia, sharing a quarter of the draw with US Open winner Coco Gauff.
Three-time major champion Kerber faces a challenging start against Danielle Collins, who defeated Swiatek in the 2022 semifinals. Swiatek, a three-time French Open winner, finds herself in a quarter stacked with two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka and 2017 French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko.
Wozniacki, the 2018 champion, squares off against 2023 semifinalist Magda Linette in the first round, while defending champion Aryna Sabalenka opens against a qualifier. Third-seeded Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, faces a tough opening match against former No. 1-ranked Karolina Pliskova.
Possible women’s quarterfinals present exciting matchups: No. 1 Swiatek vs. No. 7 Marketa Vondrousova, Rybakina vs. No. 5 Jessica Pegula on the top half, and No. 2 Sabalenka vs. No. 6 Ons Jabeur, No. 4 Gauff vs. No. 8 Maria Sakkari on the bottom half.
In the men’s draw, Djokovic’s potential 2023 final rematch with No. 7 Tsitsipas captures attention. Other anticipated quarterfinals include No. 4 Jannik Sinner vs. No. 5 Andrey Rublev, No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz vs. No. 6 Alexander Zverev, and No. 3 Daniil Medvedev vs. No. 8 Holger Rune.
Unseeded past Wimbledon finalists pose early challenges for top 10 players, with Tsitsipas facing Matteo Berrettini and local hopeful No. 10 Alex De Minaur taking on the formidable Milos Raonic in the opening round. The Australian Open is set to commence this Sunday, promising intense competition and thrilling matchups.
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