Add Category
Alex de Minaur will play explosive Canadian Milos Raonic in the Australian Open first round after copping a mixed draw for the season-opening grand slam starting on Sunday.
Key points:
- Alex de Minaur, seen as Australia's best hope of a home grand slam victory, will face Milos Raonic in the opening round
- Former world number three Raonic is on the path back from injury and is currently ranked number 317
- Ajla Tomljanovic will play Petra Martic while Daria Saville takes on Pole Magdalena Frech
De Minaur has avoided any potential showdowns with the world's top four stars until at least the quarterfinals, but faces a treacherous path to progress that far.
Despite languishing at number 317 in the world as he returns from injury, Raonic poses a huge threat to Australia's 10th seed and big home hope.
The former Wimbledon finalist and one-time world number three boasts one of the fiercest serves in tennis and is capable of throwing even the best players off their rhythm.
Should he survive the gruelling opener, the in-form de Minaur will play either Italian Matteo Arnaldi and or Australian wildcard Adam Walton in round two.
The 24-year-old's first slated seeded opponent is Chile's world number 18 Nicolas Jarry in the third round, with Russian fifth seed Andrey Rublev potentially awaiting in the last 16.
If de Minaur makes the quarterfinals of his home slam for the first time, after falling in the fourth round the past two years, he could strike Italian fourth seed Jannik Sinner.
But he's not projected to run into world number one and 10-time Melbourne Park champion Novak Djokovic until the semifinals.
Of the leading Australian women, three-time grand slam quarterfinalist Ajla Tomljanovic will play Petra Martic in the first round.
If Tomljanovic wins, a match-up with either 11th seed Jelena Ostapenko or fellow Australian Kimberly Birrell awaits.
Daria Saville takes on Pole Magdalena Frech and could meet either two-time champion Naomi Osaka or 16th seed Caroline Garcia in the second round.
Australian men opening match-ups
Alexei Popyrin v Marc Polmans
Chris O’Connell v Cristian Garin
James Duckworth v Luca Van Assche
Jordan Thompson v Aleksandar Vukic
Jason Kubler v Daniel Elahi Galan
Alex de Minaur v Milos Raonic
Adam Walton v Matteo Arnaldi
Thanasi Kokkinakis v Sebastian Ofner
James McCabe v Alex Michelsen
Max Purcell v qualifier/lucky loser
Rinky Hijikata v Jan-Lennard Struff
Australian women opening match-ups
Olivia Gadecki v Sloane Stephens,
Daria Saville v Magdalena Frech
Taylah Preston v Elina Svitolina
Kim Birrell v Jelena Ostapenko
Ajla Tomljanovic v Petra Martic
AAP
Sports content to make you think... or allow you not to. A newsletter delivered each Friday.