Australian Open draw: Sabalenka handed tough start; Alcaraz, Djokovic in same quarter | Tennis News – Newz9

defending Australian Open champions Aryna Sabalenka was handed a tough begin to her title protection in the primary main of the 12 months. The Belarusian will get going in opposition to 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens in her first spherical at Melbourne Park.
Should Sabalenka progress, she is on target to satisfy No. 5 seed Zheng Qinwen in the quarterfinals in a rematch of final 12 months’s last.
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Sabalenka is trying to win a 3rd consecutive girls’s singles title at Melbourne Park, one thing final completed by Martina Hingis from 1997 to 1999.
Sabalenka and WTA Finals champion Coco Gauff have been drawn into the highest half of the ladies’s singles draw.

Gauff, too, faces a Grand Slam winner on the first hurdle, as she opens in opposition to 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin.
Also in Gauff’s quarter is 2-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka, who will face Caroline Garcia in the primary spherical in Melbourne for a second straight 12 months.
The winner of that match might face No. 20 seed Karolina Muchova in Round 2, with No. 16 seed Jelena Ostapenko (or the returning Belinda Bencic) for the fitting to doubtlessly face Gauff in the final-16.
In the underside half of the draw, second seed Iga Swiatek opens in opposition to Katerina Siniakova. She is in the same half as No. 4 seed Jasmine Paolini and No. 6 seed Elena Rybakina, and No. 8 seed Emma Navarro.
Alcaraz, Djokovic in same quarter

Seeking a twenty fifth Grand Slam title, Novak Djokovic has been positioned in the same quarter as Carlos AlcarazBut the duo have landed themselves in totally different half than reigning champion Jannik Sinner.
Sinner surprised 10-time Australian Open champion Djokovic in the semifinals final 12 months earlier than staging a comeback to beat Daniil Medvedev in the ultimate 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 for his first Grand Slam singles title.
Top-ranked Sinner has a primary-spherical match in opposition to Nicolas Jarry and in addition has Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton and Medvedev in his quarter of the draw.
The Australian Open begins Sunday morning in Melbourne and can run for 15 days.