Downer for Sander Gillé: doubles specialist has to forfeit the Australian Open due to a broken finger

The 35-year-old Gillé reached the third round in Melbourne last season alongside the Pole Jan Zielinski. His best result at a Grand Slam is a final at Roland Garros in 2023 with Joran Vliegen, who was his regular partner for many years.

Vliegen will play Uruguayan Ariel in the first round against British top seeds Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool at the Australian Open. If they stunt, a duel with Zizou Bergs and Raphaël Collignon may await. They face home players James McCabe and Li Tu, who received a wildcard.

Alexander Blockx is a lucky loser for grand slam debut, Elise Mertens focuses on singles during the 9th Australian Open: “Good momentum”

Among the women, two-time winner Elise Mertens is the fourth seed with the Chinese Shuai Zhang. They start against the Romanian Sorana Cirstea and the Russian Anna Kalinskaya.

Magali Kempen and the Czech Anna Siskova will take to the court against the first seeds, the Czech Katerina Siniakova and the American Taylor Townsend. They will defend their title in Melbourne.