Australian Open begins Jan. 12 in Melbourne, and the draws for the men’s and women’s singles are intriguing — and have thrown up some blockbuster first-round matches. The Athletic’s tennis writers, Matthew Futterman and Charlie Eccleshare,

Italy's Jannik Sinner returns the ball to Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor during the Davis Cup final tennis match between Netherlands and Italy at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall in Malaga, southern Spain, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. Credit: AP/Manu Fernandez

Defending champion Jannik Sinner and 10-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic have landed in opposite sides of the draw for the season's first major, with Carlos Alcaraz in the same quarter as Djokovic.

India's top-ranked Sumit Nagal has been drawn against the world No.25 Tomas Machac in the men's singles first round at the Australian Open 2025. The 10-time champion Novak Djokovic will begin his campaign against unseeded Nishesh Basavareddy at Melbourne Park.

Defending champion Jannik Sinner and 10-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic have landed in opposite sides of the draw for the season’s first major, ruling out a replay of last year’s semifinal encounter.

British No.1 Jack Draper, who reached the US Open semi-final, opens this campaign against Argentine world No.46 Mariano Navone. Cam Norrie faces former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini. The 10-time champion Djokovic is in the same section of the draw as Carlos Alcaraz with the two Olympic finalists scheduled to meet in the last eight.

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner will begin his title defence at the Australian Open with a first-round match against Chile’s Nicolas Jarry, as per the draw ceremony held in Melbourne on Thursday.

Novak Djokovic launches his latest bid for a record-extending 11th Australian Open title against US wildcard Nishesh Basavareddy.

Seven of China’s 10 players in the year’s first grand slam, including Paris Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen, face unseeded opponents.