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,

World number one Jannik Sinner was drawn Thursday against big-hitting Nicolas Jarry to start his Australian Open defence while Novak Djokovic is on a collision course to meet Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals.

Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic is set to face American youngster Nishesh Basavareddy in the first round of the 2025 Australian Open. The 19-year-old Basavareddy is of Indian origin, with his parents coming from Nellore in India.

Australian Open favourites Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz are set for a blockbuster clash after being drawn in the same quarter of the men's singles draw.

- Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus plays a forehand return to Zheng Qinwen of China during the women’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, Saturday,