Australian Open draw: Djokovic vs Alcaraz lined up as Brit faces Kyrgi | Tennis | Sport
British No.3 Jacob Fearnley will face Nick Kyrgios and a hostile home crowd in the first round of the Australian Open.
The Aussie pulled out of an exhibition match against Novak Djokovic in the Rod Laver Arena with an abdominal strain but is hoping to be fit to play his first home Grand Slam since 2022.
Then the former world No.13 beat Liam Broady in straight sets in the opening round. The Stockport star admitted afterwards the match was an “awful experience” and Kyrgios said it was like playing in a “zoo”.
The Aussie also won the men’s doubles that year playing with Thanasi Kokkinakis amid wild crowd scenes.
Edinburgh’s Fearnley took a set off Djokovic in the second round at Wimbledon but will be playing his first main draw overseas Slam after climbing to world No.83.
Kyrgios played only one match in his latest comeback from career-threatening wrist and knee injuries at the Brisbane International last week but has remained in the news for his constant attacks on world No.1 Jannik Sinner.
And his return to the Australian Open – he has missed the last two because of injury – promises to be played in a noisy atmosphere, especially if the match is played in his favourite John Cain Arena where ground pass holders can watch.
After his straight sets defeat in 2022, Broady said: “Everyone is telling me: ‘Oh you’ll really enjoy it’. It’s going to be amazing. But I thought it was absolutely awful. I obviously wanted to go out there and win, so, I mean, losing matches in general isn’t enjoyable.
“The atmosphere was incredible, but it was, it‘s the first time I’ve ever walked onto a tennis court and been booed, which was, which for me was a crazy experience. You get sledged from the sides like you can’t believe that they don’t pick up on TV.”
With the Australian Open starting on Sunday and the first round played over three days, Kyrgios could request that his opening match is delayed until Tuesday.
“I’ve still got five days up my sleeve, so I’m just going to probably not serve for the next couple of days,” Kyrgios said on Wednesday. “I’ve got a couple of practices scheduled. I’ll do everything I can [to be ready in time].”
British No.1 Jack Draper, who reached the US Open semi-final, opens this campaign against Argentine world No.46 Mariano Navone. Cam Norrie faces former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini.
The 10-time champion Djokovic is in the same section of the draw as Carlos Alcaraz with the two Olympic finalists scheduled to meet in the last eight.
British No.1 Katie Boulter has a great chance to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time. The No.22 seed faces Canadian Rebecca Marino in the opening round – and could face No.15 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia in the third round.
Emma Raducanu will open against Ekaterina Alexandrova, the No.26 seed she should have played in the Wimbledon first round before the Russian pulled out with an illness.
Sonay Kartal will play the winner of the opening round clash between two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and Sloane Stephens if she beats Spaniard Jessica Bouzaz Maniero in the first round.
In the final round of qualifying, No.3 seed Harriet Dart lost 6-4 7-5 to Japan’s Nao Hibino and Billy Harris went down 7-5 6-2 to Kamil Majchrzak of Poland.
