Australian Open 2025: Nick Kyrgios to face Jacob Fearnley in Melbourne opener, Emma Raducanu faces Ekaterina Alexandrova 
2025-01-09
Category: sports

Australian Open 2025Dates:12-26 January Venue: Melbourne ParkCoverage: Live radio commentary on Tennis Breakfast from 07:00 GMT on BBC 5 Sports Extra, plus live text commentaries on the BBC Sport website and app
Rising British star Jacob Fearnley is set to face Nick Kyrgios - and a partisan home crowd - in the controversial Australian's planned return to Grand Slam tennis.Kyrgios, who has been given a wildcard by Australian Open organisers, has not played at a major since the 2022 US Open after a series of injuries.Jack Draper, seeded 15th, faces Argentina's Mariano Navone as the British men's number one looks to back up last year's US Open semi-final run.In the women's draw, British number one and 22nd seed Katie Boulter starts against Canada's Rebecca Marino, while Emma Raducanu faces 26th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.Novak Djokovic, who is being coached by Andy Murray in Melbourne, faces American wildcard Nishesh Basavareddy as he pursues a standalone record of 25 Grand Slam titles.Defending men's champion Jannik Sinner opens against Chile's Nicolas Jarry, while Aryna Sabalenka begins her bid for a third straight women's title against 2017 US Open winner Sloane Stephens.The Australian Open begins at Melbourne Park on Sunday.Full draw (external link), external
Fearnley rewarded with exciting Melbourne draw
Fearnley, 23, has qualified for the main draw of a major for the first time after his meteoric rise into the world's top 100.The reward for the British number three is a first-round tie against Kyrgios - presuming the 2022 Wimbledon finalist is fit enough to play.Kyrgios, 29, recently made his comeback in Brisbane after 18 months out and undergoing wrist surgery, which left him fearing for his career.On Wednesday, the former world number 13 - who is unranked - said he is now nursing an abdominal injury."It's not too serious. I'll just take it day by day and give myself the best chance," Kyrgios said.
Who are the other Brits facing?
Seven British players have direct entry into the main singles draws, although Harriet Dart and Billy Harris were unable to join them after losing their final qualifying matches on Thursday.Cameron Norrie has been handed a difficult start against Italy's Matteo Berrettini - a 2022 semi-finalist at Melbourne Park and one of the most dangerous unseeded players in the men's draw.Like Fearnley, Sonay Kartal is playing in her first overseas Grand Slam following the best season her career.The 23-year-old faces Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, with Sabalenka potentially waiting in the second round.Jodie Burrage, who has used a protected ranking after missing a large chunk of last season through injury, has been pitted against French qualifier Leolia Jeanjean.Burrage, 25, also has the likelihood of facing a superstar in the second round in third seed Coco Gauff.
Sinner avoids Djokovic and Alcaraz until final
Although the unpredictable nature of a Grand Slam means things do not always pan out as expected, the draw ceremony is always an exciting event that allows fans to plot what may happen.The leading two seeds are split, meaning they cannot play each other until the final - should they get that far.Sinner has been drawn in the same half as American fourth seed Taylor Fritz and Russian fifth seed Daniil Medvedev.It means Sinner cannot play 10-time champion Djokovic or Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, who is aiming to complete the career Grand Slam aged just 21, until the semi-finals.Despite being at the opposite ends of their careers, Djokovic and Alcaraz have developed an intriguing rivalry which has produced some enthralling encounters.The pair could meet again in the Melbourne quarter-finals.In the women's draw, Sabalenka could face Gauff - who faces 2020 champion Sofia Kenin in a tough all-American first-round opener - in the semi-finals.Neither Sabalenka or Gauff can face second seed Iga Swiatek, who begins against Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic, until the final.