The 2024 Australian Open is here, and Neos Kosmos previews what is sure to be another entertaining tournament.
While World No.1 Novak Djokovic is once again the odds-on favourite, looking to win his 25th Grand Slam and 11th Australian Open to boot, but an injury cloud hangs over him.
During both his matches of the United Cup, Djokovic needed treatment on his right wrist, including in his loss to 10th seed Alex de Minaur.
The Aussie leads the Australian contingent in the men’s singles competition, but has a difficult first-round clash with World No.3 Milos Raonic.
This week de Minaur became the first Australian man to hold a top-10 ranking in 17 years, but will have his work cut out for him against the big serving Canadian.
Nonetheless the 24-year-old has become a great threat to the elite players of the tour, beating six top-10 rivals last year and starting this year by defeating Taylor Fritz, Alex Zverev and Djokovic.
The Serbian’s biggest challenge for the title is Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, but the two won’t meet until the final, if they make it that far.
Last year’s runner up, Stefanos Tsitsipas will face Italian Matteo Berrettini first up and world No.3 Daniil Medvedev will play a qualifier.
Seventh seed Tsitsipas also happens to be de Minaur’s bogey, with the Greek beating him 12 out of their 13 meetings, including 10 on hard courts.
If Tsitsipas is victorious in his opening match, he’ll face one of Aussie pair Jordan Thompson or Aleksandar Vukic for the second round.
Fans who were hoping to see Rafael Nadal, perhaps one last time, will no longer have the opportunity, as the 22-time Grand Slam winner has pulled out with a muscle tear.
Eight Australian men received direct acceptance into the draw, which is a 25-year high. With the addition of five wildcards, this boosts the total number of local competitors to 13 (equalling the most since 1999).
Australian men’s first round matches
Alex de Minaur vs Milos Raonic (CAN)
Jordan Thompson vs Aleksandar Vukic
Alexei Popyrin vs Marc Polmans
Thanasi Kokkinakis vs Sebastian Ofner (AUT)
Chris O’Connell vs Cristian Garin (CHI)
James Duckworth vs Luca Van Assche (FRA)
Jason Kubler vs Daniel Elahi Galan (COL)
Adam Walton vs Matteo Arnaldi (ITA)
James McCabe vs Qualifier/Lucky Loser
Max Purcell vs Qualifier/Lucky Loser
Rinky Hijikata vs No.24 Jan-Lennard Struff (GER)
On the women’s side, round 1 looks to be a blockbuster – former Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka makes her return against No.16 seed Caroline Garcia.
Iga Swiatek, the favourite to go all the way, won’t have it easy, having drawn 2020 champion Sofia Kenin first up.
Greece’s top-ranked Maria Sakkari faces off against No.92 from Japan, Nao Hibino. If she is successful, Chinese player Zhuoxun Bai, or the rising Russian Elina Avanesian will next up, followed by a third-round matchup against most likely Belgian Elise Mertens or Ukrainian Marta Kostiuk.
Aussie women have also been dealt with a tough draw, with for players pitted against top-50 opponents in the opening round.
Kimberly Birrell and Olivia Gadecki begin their respective campaigns against Grand Slam champions.
The 25-year-old Birrell faces world No.12 Jelena Ostapenko, the Roland Garros 2017 winner, while 21-year-old Gadecki meets US Open 2017 champion Sloane Stephens.
Taylah Preston, a promising 18-year-old, will make her Grand Slam main-draw debut against 19th seed Elina Svitolina.
Australian women’s first round matches
Kimberly Birrell vs Jelena Ostapenko (LAT)
Olivia Gadecki vs Sloane Stephens (USA)
Daria Saville vs Magdalena Frech (POL)
Taylah Preston vs Elina Svitolina (UKR)
Ajla Tomljanovic vs Petra Martic (CRO)
With qualifiers still taking place, additional names can be added to the first round.
Australian Open Men’s and Women’s Seeds (respectively)
1 Novak Djokovic (SRB) Iga Swiatek (POL)
2 Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) Aryna Sabalenka (BLR)
3 Daniil Medvedev (RUS) Elena Rybakina (KAZ)
4 Jannik Sinner (ITA) Coco Gauff (USA)
5 Andrey Rublev (RUS) Jessica Pegula (USA)
6 Alexander Zverev (GER) Ons Jabeur (TUN)
7 Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) Marketa Vondrousova (CZE)
8 Holger Rune (DEN) Maria Sakkari (GRE)
9 Hubert Hurkacz (POL) Barbora Krejcikova (CZE)
10 Alex de Minaur (AUS) Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA)
11 Casper Ruud (NOR) Jelena Ostapenko (LAT)
12 Taylor Fritz (USA) Zheng Qinwen (CHN)
13 Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) Liudmila Samsonova (RUS)
14 Tommy Paul (USA) Daria Kasatkina (RUS)
15 Karen Khachanov (RUS) Veronika Kudermetova (RUS)
16 Ben Shelton (USA) Caroline Garcia (FRA)
17 Frances Tiafoe (USA) Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS)
18 Nicholas Jarry (CHI) Victoria Azarenka (BLR)
19 Cameron Norrie (GBR) Elina Svitolina (UKR)
20 Adrian Mannarino (FRA) Magda Linette (POL)
21 Ugo Humbert (FRA) Donna Vekic (CRO)
22 Francisco Cerundolo (ARG) Sorana Cirstea (ROM)
23 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) Anastasia Potopova (RUS)
24 Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) Anhelina Kalinina (UKR)
25 Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) Elise Mertens (BEL)
26 Sebastian Baez (ARG) Jasmine Paolini (ITA)
27 Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) Emma Navarro (USA)
28 Tallon Griekspoor (NED) Lesia Tsurenko (UKR)
29 Sebastian Korda (USA) Zhu Lin (CHN)
30 Tomas Martin Etcheverry (ARG) Wang Xinyu (CHN)
31 Alexander Bublik (KAZ) Marie Bouzkova (CZE)
32 Jiri Lehecka (CZE) Leylah Fernandez (CAN)
