The Australian Open draw has been made for 2024, and there are plenty of tasty match-ups to look forward to.
In the women’s singles, Iga Swiatek has been paired with a former Australian Open winner, while Naomi Osaka will take on France’s top-ranked player.
On the men’s side, Stefanos Tsitsipas will play a former world No. 6, with Australia’s top hope Alex de Minaur dealt a tricky tie.
The Sporting News takes a look at the biggest first round matches for this year’s tournament.
MORE: Five players to watch at the Australian Open
Women’s singles
Iga Swiatek vs. Sofia Kenin
Two grand slam champions will face off in the first round of the Australian Open with world No. 1 Iga Swiatek and Sofia Kenin drawn together.
Swiatek has won the French Open on three occasions and triumphed at the US Open in 2022, while Kenin scored the first major victory of her career at the Australian Open in 2020.
It is a loaded section of the draw, too, with the winner of this match to play the victor of Danielle Collins vs. Angelique Kerber in the second round.
Elena Rybakina vs. Karolina Pliskova
Wimbledon 2022 champion Elena Rybakina will take on former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova in the opening round in Melbourne.
Rybakina is one of the favourites to take out the entire tournament but will first need to navigate past the experienced Czech.
Her recent head-to-head form against Pliskova is strong, though, winning their last two encounters.
Caroline Garcia vs. Naomi Osaka
Osaka returns to the grand slam tennis for the first time since giving birth to her first child.
She will face France’s top-ranked player Garcia in what will be a highly-anticipated tie.
Magda Linette vs. Caroline Wozniacki
Plenty of eyes will be on the returning Wozniacki, who has been granted a wildcard into the tournament after announcing her retirement only a couple of years ago.
She faces seeded player Linette in a challenging match-up.
Linette – the world No. 24 – is often overshadowed by fellow Pole Swiatek, but comes into this tournament as a dark horse.
Men’s singles
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Matteo Berrettini
In a rematch of their 2021 round of 16 clash, Stefanos Tsitstipas and Matteo Berrettini will square off in what is expected to be a high-quality match – particularly this early in the tournament.
Alex de Minaur vs. Milos Raonic
Australia’s top-ranked player will take on a former world No. 3 in Canada’s Milos Raonic.
Roberto Bautista Agut vs. Ben Shelton
In a true battle of experience vs. youth, 35-year-old Roberto Bautista Agut will play 20-year-old Ben Shelton.
Adrian Mannarino vs. Stan Wawrinka
Both these players are tour veterans but have had very different career trajectories. Mannarino reached the top 20 for the first time in his career recently while Wawrinka currently sits outside the top 200.
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