Defending Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka was handed a tough start to her title defence in the first major of the year. The Belarusian will get going against 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens in her first round at Melbourne Park.
Should Sabalenka progress, she is on course to meet No. 5 seed Zheng Qinwen in the quarterfinals in a rematch of last year’s final.
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Sabalenka is attempting to win a third consecutive women’s singles title at Melbourne Park, something last accomplished by Martina Hingis from 1997 to 1999.
Sabalenka and WTA Finals champion Coco Gauff have been drawn into the top half of the women’s singles draw.
Gauff, too, faces a Grand Slam winner at the first hurdle, as she opens against 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin.
Also in in Gauff’s quarter is two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka, who will face Caroline Garcia in the first round in Melbourne for a second straight year.
The winner of that match could face No. 20 seed Karolina Muchova in Round 2, with No. 16 seed Jelena Ostapenko (or the returning Belinda Bencic) for the right to potentially face Gauff in the last-16.
In the bottom half of the draw, second seed Iga Swiatek opens against Katerina Siniakova. She is in the same half as No. 4 seed Jasmine Paolini and No. 6 seed Elena Rybakina, and No. 8 seed Emma Navarro.
Alcaraz, Djokovic in same quarter
Seeking a 25th Grand Slam title, Novak Djokovic has been placed in the same quarter as Carlos Alcaraz. But the duo have landed themselves in different half than reigning champion Jannik Sinner.
Sinner stunned 10-time Australian Open champion Djokovic in the semifinals last year before staging a comeback to beat Daniil Medvedev in the final 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 for his first Grand Slam singles title.
Top-ranked Sinner has a first-round match against Nicolas Jarry and also has Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton and Medvedev in his quarter of the draw.
The Australian Open starts Sunday morning in Melbourne and will run for 15 days.
