Sinner’s first opponent at the Australian Open has been drawn

The Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner, world number one, will begin his defense of the Australian Open title against the Chilean Nicolas Jarry. This is the first verdict coming out of the draw which, among the many challenges, foresees the eventual pyrotechnic match in the quarter-finals between Alcaraz and Djokovic. Sinner won his first Grand Slam last year in Melbourne, beating the Russian Daniil Medvedev in the final and thus giving rise to a season of success and glory which also saw him win the US Open and the ATP Finals. A season ‘spoiled’ only by the doping accusations which, like a black cloud, remain over the head of the Italian athlete, cleared by the International Tennis Integrity Agency, but still waiting to know the outcome of the appeal presented by the Agency World Anti-Doping (WADA).

On his way to a possible second title in Melbourne, the 23-year-old South Tyrolean could meet Greek Stefano Tsitsipas or Australian Alex de Miñaur in the quarter-finals and Medvedev in the semi-finals. Djokovic will have a more difficult path as he tries to win the 11th Australian Open and 25th Grand Slam of his incredible career. In the first round he will meet the young American Nisheh Basavareddy, invited by the organizers. In the round of 16 he could meet the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, number 10 in the world; in the quarter-finals the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz (n. 3) and in the semi-final the German Alexander Zverev. The young Spaniard, however, will start the tournament against the Kazakh Alexander Shevchenko, who recently beat the world number 11 Tsitsipas in the United Cup. The derby between Musetti and Arnaldi stands out while Berrettini has a difficult path: Norrie and then possibly Rune and Hurkacz. For Jasmine Paolini a debut with a qualifier.

All Italian pairings

Lorenzo Musetti (16) c. Matteo Arnaldi

Flavio Cobolli (32) c. Tomas Martin Etcheverry (ARG)

Matteo Berrettini c. Cameron Norrie (GBR)

Luciano Darderi v. Pedro Martinez (ESP)

Lorenzo Sonego v. Stan Wawrinka (SUI)

Fabio Fognini v. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL, 10)

Luca Nardi c. Gabriel Diallo (CAN)
Paolini [4] c. qualificata/lucky loser
Cocciaretto c. D. Shnaider [12]
Bronzetti c. Azarenka [21]