Alcaraz vs Djokovic in potential QG, Sumit Nagal handed tough draw

Novak Djokovic, seeking a horic 25th Grand Slam title at his favourite Major, and Carlos Alcaraz, hoping to complete his career Grand Slam, are headed for a blockbuster quarterfinal clash at the Australian Open as the men’s singles main draw was conducted in Melbourne on Thursday.
Djokovic vs Alcaraz is the pick of the four projected quarterfinals based on seedings and it will be their earliest clash at any event. Their past meetings on the tour have come only in the semifinals or later. In 2024, Alcaraz beat Djokovic in the Wimbledon final while the Serb reversed the result on an emotional Paris afternoon at the Olympics to win gold.
India’s Sumit Nagal, who will feature in back-to-back main draws at the Australian Open, faces a tough task against world No. 26 Tomas Machac.
Defending champion Jannik Sinner doesn’t have the easiest of starts, as he opens against Chile’s Nicolas Jarry who has a 1-1 Head-to-Head against the Italian and pushed him to three sets a few months ago in China. The third-round is a potential banana skin for him as he could meet one of [13] Holger Rune, [18] Hubert Hurkacz or former top-10 players Matteo Berrettini / Cameron Norrie.
Djokovic launches his latest bid for a record-extending 11th Australian Open title against U.S. wildcard Nishesh Basavareddy. In the third round, Djokovic could face Reilly Opelka, the big-serving American who beat the Serb in Brisbane this week, while third seed Alcaraz will offer the biggest test at the start of the year to the Novak Djokovic-Andy Murray combine.
Spaniard Alcaraz, who added the French Open trophy to his collection in 2024, begins his campaign to capture the one Grand Slam that has eluded him when he meets Alexander Shevchenko.
Australia’s Nick Kyrgios, who has struggled with injuries since losing to Djokovic in the 2022 Wimbledon final, is due to take on Jacob Fearnley but his return to Melbourne Park remains in doubt due to an abdominal strain.
The main draw gets underway on Sunday.
Projected quarterfinals in men’s singles (as per seeding)
[1] Jannik Sinner vs. [8] Alex De Minaur
[4] Taylor Fritz vs. [5] Daniil Medvedev
[3] Carlos Alcaraz vs. [7] Novak Djokovic
[2] Alexander Zverev vs. [6] Casper Ruud
(With Reuters inputs)

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