Emma Raducanu’s hopes of a smoother Australian Open campaign face an early challenge, with the British number one potentially meeting world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the third round. Raducanu is seeded at a major for the first time since the 2022 US Open but has been drawn against the top seed at the earliest opportunity.
The 23-year-old will open her campaign against Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew, with Austria’s Anastasia Potopova or the Netherlands’ Suzan Lamens awaiting in the second round.
Meanwhile, two-time Australian Open champion Sabalenka begins her title defence against French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah. Defending champion Madison Keys, who defeated Sabalenka in last year’s final, will face Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova.
In the men’s draw, Italy’s two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner will start against France’s world number 94 Hugo Gaston. The second seed cannot meet rival Carlos Alcaraz until the final, as the pair have clashed in the trophy matches at the past three majors.
Sinner has also been placed in the same section of the draw as 10-time champion Novak Djokovic, setting up a possible semifinal showdown, while Spanish world number one Alcaraz opens against Australia’s Adam Walton.
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