The Australian Open draw has been made for 2024, and there are plenty of tasty match-ups to look forward to.
In the women’s singles, Iga Swiatek has been paired with a former Australian Open winner, while Naomi Osaka will take on France’s top-ranked player.
On the men’s side, Stefanos Tsitsipas will play a former world No. 6, with Australia’s top hope Alex de Minaur dealt a tricky tie.
The Sporting News takes a look at the biggest first round matches for this year’s tournament.
READ: Australian Open draw 2024 – Full schedule confirmed
Women’s singles
Iga Swiatek vs. Sofia Kenin
Two grand slam champions will face off in the first round of the Australian Open with world No. 1 Swiatek and Kenin drawn together.
Swiatek has won the French Open on three occasions and triumphed at the US Open in 2022, while Kenin scored the first major victory of her career at the Australian Open in 2020.
It is a loaded section of the draw, too, with the winner of this match to play the victor of Danielle Collins vs. Angelique Kerber in the second round.
Elena Rybakina vs. Karolina Pliskova
Wimbledon 2022 champion Rybakina will take on former world No. 1 Pliskova in the opening round in Melbourne.
Rybakina is one of the favourites to take out the…
