Online Reporter
EMMA Raducanu has been handed a tough path at the Australian Open despite being seeded, with world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka potentially awaiting in the third round.
Raducanu, who lost in the quarter-finals of the Hobart International on Thursday, is seeded 28th for the opening Grand Slam of the year and will face Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew in the first round.
Austria’s Anastasia Potapova or Netherlands’ Suzan Lamens would be Raducanu’s second-round opponent before a rematch of last year’s Wimbledon clash against Sabalenka, which also came in the third round.
Pre-tournament favourite Sabalenka will begin her campaign for a third Australian Open title against French wild card Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah while six-time major champion Iga Swiatek will play a qualifier, with a potential fourth-round meeting against Naomi Osaka in the second week.
Britain’s Katie Boulter, who was a last-minute entry into the main draw, has a tough opener against in-form 10th seed Belinda Bencic, while Sonay Kartal faces 31st seed Anna Kalinskaya and Francesca Jones will play a qualifier.
Venus Williams is set to become the oldest woman to compete in an Australian Open main draw, surpassing the record of 44 years old, previously held by Japan’s Kimiko Date, and could face compatriot Coco Gauff if the American duo win their opening matches.
Djokovic in same half as Sinner as Britain’s Fery qualifies for main draw Novak Djokovic has been drawn in the same half as defending men’s singles champion Jannik Sinner as the Serbian continues his quest for a 25th Grand Slam.
Djokovic will enter the Australian Open, which he has won a record 10 times, without playing competitive tennis since November after withdrawing from last week’s Adelaide International. The 38-year-old cut short a practice session in Melbourne due to a neck problem on Wednesday, raising concerns about his fitness.
As the fourth seed, he cannot face Sinner until the semi-finals – the stage he lost at each of last year’s four majors in 2025 – and will take on Spain’s Pedro Martinez in his first match.
Reigning champion Sinner goes up against France’s Hugo Gaston while Carlos Alcaraz, who is looking to complete his career Grand Slam, plays Australia’s Adam Walton.
Britain’s Cameron Norrie is seeded 26th and takes on France’s Benjamin Bonzi, before a possible third-round tie with third seed Alexander Zverev, while Jacob Fearnley will meet Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak.
Norrie and Fernley will be join in the main draw by compatriot Arthur Fery, who will make his maiden Grand Slam appearance outside of Wimbledon.
Fery won all three of his qualifying matches with straight-set victories and comfortably saw off Croatia’s Dino
Prizmic 6-4 6-1 on Thursday.
Big Australian home hope Alex de Minaur has a tough first-round draw against former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini. – Sky Sports
