The Australian Open draw has been completed in Melbourne, and the First&Red ambassadors now know who stands between them and the second round.
Two-time Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka will begin her campaign against 20-year-old Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah. The Frenchwoman, currently ranked No. 118 in the world, revealed on her official WTA pronunciation guide that she simply goes by Sara for short. If Sabalenka advances, she could be headed for a repeat of last year's Australian Open quarterfinal against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova—a superb three-set battle that showcased both players at their best.
Diana Shnaider isn't in Melbourne just yet, as she continues her run at the Adelaide International, where she'll face her close friend Mirra Andreeva in Friday's semifinal. Waiting for Shnaider in the opening round of the Australian Open is two-time Grand Slam singles champion Barbora Krejčíková. The Czech has generally found hard-court majors less rewarding than other surfaces, while Shnaider appears to be rounding into form. Even so, it will be a serious test for the Russian. Interestingly, Diana and Barbora once teamed up in doubles at Birmingham in 2024, shortly before Krejčíková went on to win Wimbledon, so the two already know each other's games.
On the men's side, Alexander Bublik has landed in Carlos Alcaraz's quarter of the draw, and a quarterfinal meeting between the pair would certainly be entertaining. Before dreaming of that clash, however, the world No. 10 must first get past Jenson Brooksby. The American previously served a 13-month suspension after missing three out-of-competition doping tests, a setback that sent him tumbling down the rankings. He has since worked his way back into the Top 50, having once reached a career-high ranking of No. 33. Brooksby defeated Bublik in their only previous meeting at the 2022 Canadian Masters, but the circumstances are very different this time, especially after Bublik's title run in Hong Kong. Should the Kazakh continue advancing, potential meetings with Flavio Cobolli and Alex de Minaur await before any possible showdown with Alcaraz. Bublik defeated De Minaur at Roland Garros last year.
Karen Khachanov did not receive quite as favorable a draw as fellow Russians Andrey Rublev and Daniil Medvedev, who both landed in the same quarter as Alexander Zverev. Khachanov opens against Alex Michelsen, who defeated him in the third round in Melbourne a year ago. Karen gained revenge last summer in Canada, leaving their head-to-head tied. His biggest obstacle, however, could come in the fourth round, where a likely meeting with two-time defending Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner awaits. Beating the Italian is difficult anywhere—but doing so in Melbourne is an especially daunting challenge.
The Australian Open main draw gets underway on Sunday, January 18.
