AAP Tennis

De Minaur to play Raonic in Australian Open first round

By AAP Newswire

Jan 11, 2024

Alex de Minaur will play explosive Canadian Milos Raonic in the Australian Open first round after copping a mixed draw for the season-opening grand slam starting on Sunday.

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De Minaur has avoided any potential showdowns with the world's top four stars until at least the quarter-finals, but faces a treacherous path to progress that far.

Despite languishing at No.317 in the world as he returns from a wretched two-year battle with injury, Raonic poses a huge threat to Australia's 10th seed and big home hope.

The powerful Milos Raonic poses a big first-round threat to Alex de Minaur. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)

The former Wimbledon finalist and one-time world No.3 boasts one of the fiercest serves in tennis and is capable of throwing even the best players off their rhythm.

Should he survive the gruelling opener, the in-form de Minaur will play either Italian Matteo Arnaldi and or Australian wildcard Adam Walton in round two.

The 24-year-old's first slated seeded opponent is Chile's world No.18 Nicolas Jarry in the third round, with Russian fifth seed Andrey Rublev potentially awaiting in the last 16.

If de Minaur makes the quarter-finals of his home slam for the first time, after falling in the fourth round the past two years, he could strike Italian fourth seed Jannik Sinner.

Fourth seed Jannik Sinner could await de Minaur in the Open quarter-finals. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

But he's not projected to run into world No.1 and 10-time Melbourne Park champion Novak Djokovic - who starts against a qualifier - until the semi-finals.

With wins over Djokovic, world No.6 Alexander Zverev and the 12th-ranked Taylor Fritz at last week's United Cup, plus an exhibition victory over Open second seed and reigning Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz on Wednesday night, de Minaur is riding a wave of confidence.

"It has been a goal of mine for a while to make the deep end of the slams and the bigger tournaments," de Minaur said before Thursday's draw at Melbourne Park.

"Hey, why not this Australian Open coming up?

"I will be ready to go against whoever I've got to play.

"It's no secret that every single person in the draw is a quality player so ultimately whoever I draw it's going to be a tough match and there's tough matches all around."

The draw threw up two all-Australian first-round match-ups: Alexei Popyrin versus Marc Polmans and Aleksandar Vukic against Jordan Thompson.

Of the leading Australian women, three-time grand slam quarter-finalist Ajla Tomljanovic will play Croatia's Petra Martic in the first round.

Petra Martic will play Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic in the first round. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS)

If Tomljanovic wins, a match-up with either 11th seed Jelena Ostapenko or fellow Australian Kim Birrell awaits.

Daria Saville takes on Pole Magdalena Frech and could meet either two-time champion Naomi Osaka or 16th seed Caroline Garcia in the second round.

The Osaka-Garcia showdown is among several spicy first-round women's encounters.

World No.1 Iga Swiatek faces an early litmus test against unseeded 2020 champion Sofia Kenin.

In a loaded top section of the draw, Swiatek will play the winner of another heavyweight battle between 2016 champion Angelique Kerber and Danielle Collins, the runner-up to Ash Barty two years ago.

Third-seeded 2023 finalist Rybakina also has a challenging opener against former world No.1 Karolina Pliskova.

WHO THE AUSSIES FACE IN THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN FIRST ROUND (PREFIX DENOTES SEEDING):

Men's singles

10-Alex De Minaur v Milos Raonic (CAN)

Alexei Popyrin v Marc Polmans

Chris O'Connell v Cristian Garin (CHI)

Aleksandar Vukic v Jordan Thompson

Thanasi Kokkinakis v Sebastian Ofner (AUT)

Adam Walton v Matteo Arnaldi (ITA)

James McCabe v Alex Michelsen (USA)

Max Purcell v qualifier

Rinky Hijikata v 24-Jan-Lennard Struff (GER)