By Tony Fairbairn
- Jannik Sinner prepares for first Grand Slam title defence with ten-time champion Novak Djokovic having a brutal draw.
- Top Seeds: Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz
- British Interest: Jack Draper [15], Cameron Norrie, Jacob Fearnley
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – World number one Jannik Sinner prepares for his first Grand Slam title defence at the Australian Open with a number of challengers looking to dethrone him including ten-time champion Novak Djokovic.
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[1] Jannik Sinner
Best Result: Champion (2024)
A confident Sinner enters 2025 having won two Grand Slams and ended the 2024 season as world number one with the Italian now preparing for his first Grand Slam title defence in Melbourne.
Sinner’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: Nicolas Jarry | H2H: Tied at 1-1
- R2: Taro Daniel | H2H: Sinner leads 2-0
- R3: Flavio Cobolli [32] | H2H: First Meeting
- R4: Holger Rune [13] | H2H: Tied at 2-2
- QF: Alex De Minaur [8] | H2H: Sinner leads 9-0
- SF: Taylor Fritz [4] | H2H: Sinner leads 4-1
- F: Alexander Zverev [2] | H2H: Zverev leads 4-2
Sinner has one of the toughest first rounds he could of asked for in the form of the powerful Chilean Nicolas Jarry. The first round test will be a very good indicator to determine where the Italian’s game is and is probably the biggest test he will face until the last 16. In the fourth round Sinner will face either Holger Rune or Hubert Hurkacz with the Pole facing Tallon Griekspoor in the opening round. A quarter-final match against home favourite Alex De Minaur would suit the world number one well before a semi-final clash with either US Open champion Fritz or a rematch of last year’s epic final with Daniil Medvedev.
[2] Alexander Zverev
Best Result: Semi-Final (2020, 2024)
The German had an incredible 2024 season which saw him end the year as world number two but now all focus turns to winning his first Grand Slam title of his career.
Zverev’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: Lucas Pouille [WC] | H2H: First Meeting
- R2: Pedro Martinez | H2H: Zverev leads 1-0
- R3: Sebastian Baez [28] | H2H: Zverev leads 2-0
- R4: Ugo Humbert [14] | H2H: Zverev leads 2-1
- QF: Casper Ruud [6] | H2H: Zverev leads 4-2
- SF: Carlos Alcaraz [3] | H2H: Zverev leads 6-5
- F: Jannik Sinner [1] | H2H: Zverev leads 4-2
Zverev is the big draw winner on the men’s side and will be hoping this is the year that he can reach a first Australian Open final. The German is expected to comfortably get past Lucas Pouille and Pedro Martinez before a potential blockbuster third round clash against Nick Kyrgios. In the second week Ugo Humbert or Arthur Fils could test him while Casper Ruud or Felix Auger-Aliassime likely await in the quarter-finals. Should Zverev play his best tennis then he will have full energy to tackle a semi-final against either Alcaraz or Novak Djokovic. This is Zverev’s best chance to win a Grand Slam but will have to avoid old habits of spending unnecessary time on court if he wants to have any hope of achieving his lifelong dream.
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[3] Carlos Alcaraz
Best Result: Quarter-Final (2024)
After winning two Grand Slam titles in 2024, Alcaraz now aims to complete the career Grand Slam at 21 years of age and continue his quest of creating more history.
Alcaraz’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: Alexander Shevchenko | H2H: Alcaraz leads 1-0
- R2: Yoshihito Nishioka | H2H: Alcaraz leads 1-0
- R3: Jordan Thompson [27] | H2H: Alcaraz leads 1-0
- R4: Jack Draper [15] | H2H: Alcaraz leads 2-1
- QF: Novak Djokovic [7] | H2H: Djokovic leads 4-3
- SF: Alexander Zverev [2] | H2H: Zverev leads 6-5
- F: Jannik Sinner [1] | H2H: Alcaraz leads 6-4
Alcaraz has been given a brutal draw in his bid for a first Australian Open title as Alexander Shevchenko and Jordan Thompson will provide very tough opening week tests. A fourth round blockbuster against Sebastian Korda or Jack Draper awaits Alcaraz as he gets the opportunity to renew his rivalry with some of the brightest talents around his age group. A quarter-final against ten-time champion Novak Djokovic could await before the final two rounds. The Spaniard has shown he is capable of raising his game under the severest of pressure but will need to take that to new levels if he wants to complete the career Grand Slam in Melbourne this year.
[4] Taylor Fritz
Best Result: Quarter-Final (2024)
Fritz reached finals at the US Open and the Nitto ATP Finals at the end of last year and will aim to carry the momentum into the Australian Open, a Grand Slam where he has made near breakthroughs in the past.
Fritz’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: Jenson Brooksby [PR] | H2H: Brooksby leads 1-0
- R2: Borna Coric | H2H: Coric leads 4-1
- R3: Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard [30] | H2H: First Meeting
- R4: Lorenzo Musetti [16] | H2H: Musetti leads 3-2
- QF: Daniil Medvedev [5] | H2H: Tied at 1-1
- SF: Jannik Sinner [1] | H2H: Sinner leads 4-1
- F: Alexander Zverev [2] | H2H: Fritz leads 7-5
Fritz has an awkward draw and begins his campaign against the returning Jenson Brooksby before taking on Borna Coric in the second round. The in-form Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard awaits in the third round before a tricky test against Lorenzo Musetti with whom Fritz had a big rivalry last season. Overall the American has the potential to set up a semi-final showdown with Sinner but it’s just as plausible if the fourth seed crashed out in the opening week.
The Australian Open begins on the 12th of January and concludes on the 26th of January.
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