Australian Open draw LIVE: Andy Murray, Emma Raducanu, Novak Djokovic and more learn fate
Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek are the top seeds as the opening grand slam of the year gets underway in Melbourne
Emma Raducanu will face American Shelby Rogers in the opening round of the Australian Open, while Andy Murray has been drawn against the 30th seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry and could face defending champion Novak Djokovic in the third round.
Raducanu has been granted a place in the main draw due to her protected ranking after missing eight months of last season following wrist and ankle surgeries and will meet an opponent in Rogers who she thrashed on her way to winning the US Open in 2021. All the British women avoided seeded players in the opening round, with Katie Boulter facing Yuan Yue while Jodie Burrage takes on Tamara Korpatsch in their opening matches.
Meanwhile, the returning Naomi Osaka will face a tough test on her grand slam return after being drawn against Caroline Garcia. It was one of a number of headline opening matches in the women’s singles, with World No 1 Iga Swiatek being paired with 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, and Elena Rybakina meeting former World No 1 Karolina Pliskova.
In the men’s draw, Murray takes on the Argentine Etcheverry - and would expect to play defending champion Djokovic in the third round if he makes it that far. Djokovic will open against a qualifier, while Carlos Alcaraz could meet Dan Evans in the second round, if the Brit makes his way past Lorenzo Sonego.
A meeting between former grand slam finalists Matteo Berrettini and Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round was the pick of the men’s ties, while Jannik Sinner landed in Djokovic’s half with Daniil Medvedev falling into the bottom half of the draw along with Alcaraz.
Follow the Australian Open 2024 draw below in tonight’s live blog
Emma Raducanu set to be fit for Australian Open and faces Shelby Rogers
Emma Raducanu will make her grand slam return against American Shelby Rogers at the Australian Open.
Rogers was one of the players Raducanu, who is playing her first major tournament for a year following surgery on both wrists and one ankle, beat on her way to the US Open title in 2021.
Raducanu made a positive return in Auckland last week, pushing Elina Svitolina in the second round before tiring, but alarm bells began ringing when she pulled out of first an exhibition match at Melbourne Park on Tuesday and then another exhibition at the Kooyong Classic on Thursday.
However, Raducanu’s team insisted both were precautionary after she felt some soreness following a practice session on Monday and she practised for two hours at Melbourne Park on Thursday.
Raducanu looked relaxed and happy hitting with fellow British player Lily Miyazaki under the guidance of coach Nick Cavaday, with no strapping or obvious signs of discomfort.
Rogers is a kind draw on paper with the 31-year-old also coming off a long break having not played since Wimbledon and ranked down at 156.
Emma Raducanu set to be fit for Australian Open and faces Shelby Rogers
The former US Open champion is playing her first major tournament for a year
Andy Murray could face Novak Djokovic in Australian Open third round after draw
Emma Raducanu will face American Shelby Rogers in the opening round of the Australian Open, while Andy Murray has been drawn against the 30th seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry and could face defending champion Novak Djokovic in the third round.
Murray was the only British player to draw a seed and takes on the Argentine Etcheverry - and the 36-year-old would expect to play defending champion Djokovic in the third round if he makes it that far. Djokovic, who will open against a qualifier, is targetting an 11th Australian Open title this month while Carlos Alcaraz could meet Dan Evans in the second round, if the Brit makes his way past Lorenzo Sonego.
Cameron Norrie, the only British seed, faces Juan Pablo Varillas, with Jack Draper meeting Marcos Giron.
A meeting between former grand slam finalists Matteo Berrettini and Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round was the pick of the men’s ties, while Jannik Sinner landed in Djokovic’s half with Daniil Medvedev falling into the bottom half of the draw along with Alcaraz.
Andy Murray could face Novak Djokovic in Australian Open third round after draw
Emma Raducanu will play Shelby Rogers in her opening match in Melbourne
Australian Open draw LIVE
The Australian Open prize money is at a record high for 2024 following a 13 per cent increase of £5.34m (AU$10m) from 2023.
The total prize pool now stands at £46.2m (AU$86.5m), with the men’s singles and women’s singles champions taking home around £1.67m (AU $3.15m) for winning the tournament.
Prize money has also been increased in the early rounds, with players who reach the main draw earning £64,000 - even if they do not win a match at the tournament.
Defending champion and record 10-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic is once again the favourite for the men’s title, while World No 1 Iga Swiatek and newly crowned US Open champion Coco Gauff will be the top contenders for Aryna Sabalenka’s crown in the women’s singles.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What is the Australian Open prize money?
Novak Djokovic will be aiming to win an 11th Australian Open title in Melbourne this month
Australian Open draw LIVE
The Australian Open is around the corner with the first tennis grand slam of the year bursting with storylines to start 2024.
Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka are the defending champions but all eyes will be on those making comebacks in Melbourne, with Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu returning to the big stage after long absences.
There will be no return for 22-time men’s grand slam champion Rafael Nadal, however, with the 37-year-old forced to withdraw from the opening grand slam of the year due to a fresh hip injury.
Four-time major champion Osaka returns having given birth to her first daughter, Shai, last summer, while Raducanu is also on the comeback trail after the former US Open champion was sidelined for eight months of last season due to wrist and ankle surgeries.
Djokovic, meanwhile, is aiming for a record-extending 11th Australian Open title as he begins his bid for a golden slam, while the likes of Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff will be out to claim Sabalenka’s crown. Here’s everything you need to know.
When does the Australian Open start?
The opening grand slam of the year is set to be dominated by comebacks as Rafael Nadal and Naomi Osaka return to the big stage
Australian Open draw LIVE
Australian Open 2024 tournament schedule
Sunday 14 January: Round 1, men’s singles, women’s singles
Monday 15 January: Round 1, men’s singles, women’s singles
Tuesday 16 January: Round 1, men’s singles, women’s singles
Wednesday 17 January: Round 2, men’s singles, women’s singles
Thursday 18 January: Round 2, men’s singles, women’s singles
Friday 19 January: Round 3, men’s singles, women’s singles
Saturday 20 January: Round 3, men’s singles, women’s singles
Sunday 21 January: Round 4, men’s singles, women’s singles
Monday 22 January: Round 4, men’s singles, women’s singles
Tuesday 23 January: Quarter-finals, men’s singles, women’s singles
Wednesday 24 January: Quarter-finals, men’s singles, women’s singles
Thursday 25 January: Semi-finals, women’s singles
Friday 26 January: Semi-finals, men’s singles
Saturday 27 January: Women’s singles final
Sunday 28 January: Men’s singles final
- Men’s & women’s doubles: 16-28 January
- Mixed doubles: 18-27 January
- Wheelchair events: 23-27 January
- Junior events: 20-27 January
Australian Open draw LIVE
Selected first-round matches - men’s seeds
(1) Djokovic vs qualifier
(2) Alcaraz vs Gasquet
(3) Medvedev vs qualifier
(4) Sinner vs Van de Zandshulp
(5) Rublev vs Seyboth Wild
(6) Zverev vs Koepfer
(7) Tsitsipas vs Berrettini
(8) Rune vs Nishioka
Australian Open draw LIVE
Selected first-round matches - women’s seeds
(1) Swiatek vs Kenin
(2) Sabalenka vs qualifier
(3) Rybakina vs Pliskova
(4) Gauff vs Schmiedlova
(5) Pegula vs qualifier
(6) Jabeur vs qualifier
(7) Vondrousava vs qualifier
(8) Sakkari vs Hibino
Australian Open draw LIVE
Selected matches - men’s singles
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Matteo Berrettini
Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Dominic Thiem
Jannik Sinner vs Botic van de Zandschulp
Frances Tiafoe vs Borna Coric
Alex de Minaur vs Milos Raonic
Australian Open draw LIVE
Andy Murray could face Novak Djokovic in Australian Open third round after draw
Emma Raducanu will play Shelby Rogers in her opening match in Melbourne
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