Australian Open tennis 2025: Novak Djokovic handed tough draw, Jannik Sinner faces Jarry test

Top players like Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic face tough competition in the Australian Open defense.

World number one Jannik Sinner was drawn on Thursday (January 9, 2025) against big-hitting Nicolas Jarry to start his Australian Open defence while Novak Djokovic is on a collision course to meet Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.

Italy’s Sinner defeated Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in last year’s final in Melbourne to secure his first major and went on to add the U.S. Open and ATP Finals crowns to his collection.

But the top seed will begin his title defence under a doping cloud after twice testing positive for traces of the steroid clostebol in March.

He was exonerated by the International Tennis Integrity Agency but is awaiting the outcome of an appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

The 23-year-old could meet Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas or Australian Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals, and Medvedev in the semis.

Serbia’s Djokovic drew American wildcard Nishesh Basavareddy to start but has a huge task in front of him to win an 11th Australian Open and record 25th Grand Slam.

He is seeded to meet world number 10 Grigor Dimitrov in round four and Spain’s Alcaraz in the last eight, before a potential clash with Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals.