Djokovic and Alcaraz on collision course for Australian Open quarter-finals

Ten-time champion Djokovic, who is bidding to win a record-breaking 25th grand slam title, could meet Alcaraz in the second week if both players overcome the early stages.

Djokovic will begin his bid against American Nishesh Basavareddy, who is into the Auckland Open semi-finals, having only had one ATP Tour-level win prior to that tournament. Alcaraz faces Alexander Shevchenko in his opener.

All seven of the pair's previous meetings have come at the semi-final stage or later. Last year, Alcaraz triumphed in the Wimbledon final before Djokovic beat the Spaniard to win gold at the Paris Olympics.

Sinner, meanwhile, faces a tough opening test against Chilean Nicolas Jarry, who lost in three sets to the world number one when they met in Beijing last year. Should he progress to the second week in his title defence, he could face home favourite Alex De Minaur in the quarter-final.

Nick Kyrgios' first match at a Grand Slam in over two years, should he be fit to play after suffering another injury setback, will be against Brit Jack Fearnley.

Sinner could face his biggest rivals in Alcaraz and Djokovic only in the final! #AO2025 https://t.co/rZ8bVjYkj6

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 9, 2025

In the women's draw, Aryna Sabalenka faces a challenging opener as she bids to become the first woman to win three consecutive Australian Opens since Martina Hingis in 1997-99.

She will face 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens, with Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen and Coco Gauff in her path should she reach the second week.

Gauff also faces a former grand slam winner in her opening match, with 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin up first. This will be the first Women's Singles opening round at the Australian Open in the Open Era with two matches between former Grand Slam winners.

Two-time winner Naomi Osaka, also in Gauff's quarter of the draw, will face Caroline Garcia in the first round for the second consecutive year.

Emma Raducanu and Iga Swiatek are on their own collision course and could face off in the third round.