Fearnley handed Kyrgios blockbuster at Australian Open

Australian Open 2025

Dates: 12-26 January Venue: Melbourne Park

In the controversial Australian’s planned return to Grand Slam tennis, rising British star Jacob Fearnley will square off against Nick Kyrgios and a divided home crowd.

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 currently under the direction of Andy Murray in Melbourne, will face American wildcard Nishesh Basavareddy in a fight to earn his 25 Grand Slam titles.

Aryna Sabalenka launches her bid for a third straight women’s title against Sloane Stephens, the 2017 US Open champion, while defending men’s champion Jannik Sinner faces Nicolas Jarry from Chile.

If the 2022 Wimbledon finalist is fit enough to play, the British number three will likely win a first-round match against Kyrgios.

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.

Matteo Berrettini, a 2022 semi-finalist and one of the most dangerous unseeded players in the men’s draw, will face Cameron Norrie, a difficult start to his match.

Sonay Kartal is playing her first overseas Grand Slam following her best 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 since missing a significant portion of the previous season due to injury, must wait to see which qualifier or lucky loser she plays.

The draw ceremony is always a thrilling experience that lets fans anticipate what might happen, despite the unpredictable nature of a Grand Slam, which can lead to unexpected outcomes.

If the leading seeds advance to the final, they will have to play each other until the final.

Sinner has drawn the same way as Daniil Medvedev and Taylor Fritz, a fourth-seed in the United States.

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 having careers at different points in their careers, Djokovic and Alcaraz have developed an intriguing rivalry that has resulted in 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.