- The Australian is under a cloud of injuries days before the Grand Slam
- The draw was announced Thursday afternoon local time.
Nick Kyrgios has avoided facing a top seed in the first round of his country’s Grand Slam but could face a daunting showdown if he wins until the third round in Melbourne.
The 29-year-old will face Jacob Fearnley in his first match, with the British star currently ranked 86th in the world.
If he wins that match, he could face Sebastián Báez in the second round, with the Argentine ranked 28th in the world.
And if Kyrgios progresses, a very tough test would await him: German Alexander Zverev, world number 2.
Tennis fans dreaming of seeing him take on defending champion Jannik Sinner will likely be disappointed as the two are on opposite sides of the draw and can only meet in the final.
The outspoken Australian enters the Grand Slam under a cloud of injuries after announcing he has an abdominal strain that could put him in doubt for the tournament, although he was seen practicing on Thursday in an indication it is not a serious setback.
Nick Kyrgios (pictured practicing in Melbourne on Thursday) has avoided facing any of the Australian Open’s biggest stars.
The Australian firebrand will face Britain’s Jacob Fearnley (pictured) in his first match, with tough tests ahead if he advances against the world number 86.
Alex De Minaur will launch his Australian Open campaign against Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, with former finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas looming as the first major threat to the local hope.
De Minaur, seeded in the top eight at a Grand Slam for the first time, will need to shoot quickly.
Although he is now ranked a lowly 82nd in the world, van de Zandschulp unseated Carlos Alcaraz from last year’s US Open to reach 22nd place before being hampered by injuries.
If he can overcome van de Zandschulp, eighth-seeded De Miñaur will face a qualifier or Argentine Federico Coria in the second round.
Alex De Minaur has been seeded in the top eight at a Grand Slam for the first time, but that didn’t stop him from earning a difficult draw on Thursday.
De Minaur’s projected first seeded opponent is Argentine world number 31 Francisco Cerundolo in the third round, and 2023 runner-up Tsitsipas is a likely opponent in the round of 16.
Australia’s 25th seed Alexei Popyrin faced Frenchman Corentin Moutet and could face compatriot Rinky Hijikata in the second round.
World number 27 Jordan Thompson, who is also seeded in a grand slam for the first time, opens against a qualifier.
Australians Daria Saville and Ajla Tomljanovic have avoided playing seeds in the first round.
More to come…