Defending champion Jannik Sinner and 10-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic have landed in opposite sides of the draw for the season’s first major, ruling out a replay of last year’s semifinal encounter.

FILE - Italy’s Jannik Sinner returns the ball to Netherlands’ Tallon Griekspoor during the Davis Cup final tennis match between Netherlands and Italy at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall in Malaga, southern Spain, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)

No one will be able to underestimate Novak Djokovic, who has won this tournament ten times and who will benefit from the valuable advice of a legend like Andy Murray. The Serbian champion will have less pressure than in the past and has shown that he can still be competitive at the highest level despite being almost 38 years old.

Novak Djokovic launches his latest bid for a record-extending 11th Australian Open title against US wildcard Nishesh Basavareddy.

World number one Jannik Sinner was drawn on Thursday (January 9, 2025) against big-hitting Nicolas Jarry to start his Australian Open defence while Novak Djokovic is on a collision course to meet Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.

Defending champion Jannik Sinner and 10-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic have landed in opposite sides of the draw for the season's first major, with Carlos Alcaraz in the same quarter as Djokovic.

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz can each make more history with an Australian Open title, but they could first face each other in the quarterfinals. The men's singles draw is highlighted by the third seed Alcaraz and seventh seed Djokovic sharing the same quarter.

Novak Djokovic now knows who he will face in his Australian Open first-round clash – and the tennis great certainly faces an intriguing test. Nishesh Basavareddy may not be a name that is yet familiar to all,