By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday January 9, 2024
The Australian Open hasn't started yet, but thanks to Thursday's draw it is already heating up down under.
Photo Source: TTV FB
Novak Djokovic has a tricky path in Melbourne, and the 10-time champion is slated to face Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals, if the seeds hold.
Seventh-ranked Djokovic, seeded seventh, will face American wild card Nishesh Basavareddy in his first match, and could face Czech Tomas Machac – or Reilly Opelka, the man who defeated him last week in Brisbane – in the third round.
Below is a preliminary look at the draw before qualifiers and lucky losers have been placed.
Men’s and women’s singles draws were released on Thursday in Melbourne, revealing that Djokovic will sit in four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz’s half of the draw, while defending champion Jannik Sinner has Taylor Fritz in his half.
Alcaraz and Djokovic have met seven times, including twice in the Wimbledon final and most recently in the Olympic gold medal match. Djokovic leads 4-3 all-time against his younger rival.
Alcaraz, 21, is bidding to win the career Grand Slam. If he wins the title in Australia he will have won more Slam titles before turning 22 than any other ATP player. Mats Wilander and Boris Becker each won four major titles before turning 22.
Sinner will face Chile’s Nicolas Jarry in his first match, and could face Aussie Alex de Minaur in the quarterfinals, if the seeds hold.
Alcaraz will face Alexander Shevchenko of Kazakhstan, with No.2-seeded Alexander Zverev anchoring the lower half of the draw that is occupied by Djokovic and Alcaraz.