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Defending men’s singles champion Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic were drawn into the same half of the Australian Open as the draw was unveiled on Thursday in Melbourne, setting up the possibility of a blockbuster semifinal between the two.

Ten-time Australian Open champion Djokovic, who is chasing a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title to move past Margaret Court’s all-time singles mark, will begin his campaign against Spain’s Pedro Martinez. Second seed Sinner, aiming for a rare third consecutive title in Melbourne, opens against French left-hander Hugo Gaston.

Although Djokovic once held a 4–1 advantage in their head-to-head rivalry, Sinner has dominated their recent meetings, defeating the Serbian in each of their last five encounters, including the semifinal of the 2024 Australian Open on his way to a maiden Grand Slam title.

World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz has also landed in the same half of the draw as Alexander Zverev. The 22-year-old Spaniard, bidding for his seventh major title and a Career Grand Slam, will start against Australian wildcard Adam Walton.

The women’s draw promises several compelling matchups, including a potential second-round showdown between third seed Coco Gauff and former world No. 1 Venus Williams. The two Americans last met at Wimbledon in 2019, when a 15-year-old Gauff stunned Williams in her Grand Slam debut.

Williams, 45, a two-time Australian Open finalist making her 22nd appearance in Melbourne, must first defeat Serbia’s Olga Danilovic to set up the clash. Gauff opens her campaign against Kamilla Rakhimova.

Gauff and Williams share the same half as Aryna Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion in 2023 and 2024, who finished runner-up to Madison Keys last year. Sabalenka arrives in Melbourne fresh off defending her Brisbane title and will face French wildcard Tiantsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah in the first round.

The bottom half of the women’s draw features a strong American presence, with ninth seed Keys projected to meet sixth seed Jessica Pegula in the fourth round, with the winner likely to face fourth seed Amanda Anisimova.