Melbourne, Jan 12: Ten-time champion Novak Djokovic could face former World No. 1 Andy Murray in the third round of the Australian Open.
The potential blockbuster was revealed at the draw ceremony Thursday at Melbourne Park. Djokovic will open against a qualifier or lucky loser and if he wins, will face a home favourite: Marc Polmans or Alexei Popyrin. Murray begins his event against 30th seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
Djokovic is fresh off a season in which he won three majors to increase his total to 24, a standalone record. One year ago, the Serbian at Melbourne Park tied what was then Rafael Nadal’s record for most Slam titles and reclaimed No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings from Carlos Alcaraz. The 36-year-old has won 28 consecutive matches at the season’s first major.
The highest-seeded player in Djokovic’s quarter is the man he beat in the final last year: Stefanos Tsitsipas. The seventh seed, who has made three additional Australian Open semi-finals, will need to be sharp with former Top 10 star Matteo Berrettini his opening opponent.
Alcaraz, the second seed, will begin his tournament against former World No. 7 Richard Gasquet. Alcaraz leads the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head 1-0 after defeating the Frenchman 6-2, 6-2 in the 2021 Umag final.
The Spaniard did not play in Melbourne last year and this will be his third appearance. The last time he appeared in 2022, an 18-year-old Alcaraz lost in the third round to Berrettini.