- Aussie is under an injury cloud days out from grand slam
- Draw has been announced on Thursday afternoon, local time
Nick Kyrgios has avoided facing a seed in the first round of his home grand slam – but he could face a daunting match-up if he wins through to the third round in Melbourne.
The 29-year-old will be taking on Jacob Fearnley in his first match, with the British star currently ranked 86th in the world.
If he wins that encounter, he could face Sebastian Baez in round two, with the Argentine ranked 28th in the world.
And if Kyrgios progresses, a very stern test would await him in the form of Germany’s Alexander Zverev, who is the world No.2.
Tennis fans who are dreaming of seeing him face off against defending champion Jannik Sinner will likely be disappointed, as the pair are on opposite sides of the draw and can only meet in the final.
The outspoken Aussie is coming into the grand slam under an injury cloud after announcing he has an abdominal strain that could put him in doubt for the tournament, although he was seen practising on Thursday in an indication it isn’t a serious setback.
Nick Kyrgios (pictured practising in Melbourne on Thursday) has avoided being drawn against any of the biggest stars at the Australian Open
The Aussie firebrand will face Britain’s Jacob Fearnley (pictured) in his first match – with very tough tests in store if he progresses against the world No.86
Alex De Minaur will launch his Australian Open campaign against big-hitting Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, with former finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas lurking as the local hope’s first big threat.
Seeded in the top eight at a grand slam for the first time, De Minaur will need to fire quickly.
While now ranked a lowly 82nd in the world, van de Zandschulp ousted Carlos Alcaraz from last year’s US Open and was as high as No.22 before being hindered by injuries.
If he can get past van de Zandschulp, the eighth-seeded de Minaur will play either a qualifier or Argentine Federico Coria in round two.
De Minaur’s first projected seeded opponent is Argentina’s world No.31 Francisco Cerundolo in the third round, with 2023 runner-up Tsitsipas a likely opponent in the last 16.
Alex De Minaur has been seeded in the top eight at a grand slam for the first time – but that didn’t stop him from getting a prickly draw on Thursday
Australia’s 25th seed Alexei Popyrin has drawn Frenchman Corentin Moutet and could face countryman Rinky Hijikata in round two.
World No.27 Jordan Thompson, who is also seeded at a grand slam for the first time, opens against a qualifier.
Aussie women Daria Saville and Ajla Tomljanovic have avoided playing seeds in the first round, but teen star Emerson Jones is facing world No.6 Elena Rybakina in her first match.
Ten-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic was done no favours in the draw as he will have to face the likes of Grigor Dimitrov, Fabio Fognini and David Goffin.
One of the bigger shocks came when women’s title holder Aryna Sabalenka was drawn to face Sloane Stephens in the first round.
The American is ranked 66th in the world, but was ranked No.3 in 2018, made the final of the French Open that year and took the 2017 US Open crown.
