The stage is set for a potential heavyweight encounter at the Australian Open after the men’s singles draw revealed that Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic could meet in the semi-finals. Sinner, the reigning champion, is aiming for a historic third straight title in Melbourne, while Djokovic is chasing an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam crown.

Sinner opens his campaign against French world No. 94 Hugo Gaston. The Italian arrives in Melbourne in commanding form after a stellar 2025 season that included his second Australian Open title, a Wimbledon triumph and victory at the ATP Finals. If he lifts the trophy again, the 24-year-old would join Djokovic as the only men in the Open era to win three consecutive Australian Open titles.

Djokovic, seeded fourth, begins against Spain’s Pedro Martinez as he looks to extend his record at Melbourne Park, where he has already won the title ten times. With both players placed in the same half of the draw, a Sinner-Djokovic semi-final looms as one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament.

World number one Carlos Alcaraz starts his quest against home favourite Adam Walton. The Spaniard is bidding for his first Australian Open title and a place in history as the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam, having already won the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.

Elsewhere in the men’s draw, last year’s runner-up Alexander Zverev faces Canadian big-server Gabriel Diallo, while sixth seed Alex de Minaur has a tough opening test against former top-six player Matteo Berrettini.

In the women’s draw, world number one Aryna Sabalenka opens against French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah. Defending champion Madison Keys, who stunned Sabalenka in last year’s final to win her maiden Grand Slam, begins her title defence against Oleksandra Oliynykova.

Sabalenka and third seed Coco Gauff are in the same half and could meet in the semi-finals, while second seed Iga Swiatek — yet to go beyond the semi-finals in Melbourne — opens against a qualifier and could face Amanda Anisimova in the last four.

With the tournament set to begin on Sunday, anticipation is building for what could be a thrilling Australian Open, headlined by the prospect of another chapter in the growing rivalry between Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic.