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Sinner, Djokovic in opposite halves at the Australian Open, Sabalenka vs Stephens in 1st round

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Sinner, Djokovic in opposite halves at the Australian Open, Sabalenka vs Stephens in 1st round
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Sinner, Djokovic in opposite halves at the Australian Open, Sabalenka vs Stephens in 1st round

2025-01-09 14:55 Last Updated At:15:01

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Defending champion Jannik Sinner and 10-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic have landed in opposite sides of the draw for the season’s first major, ruling out a replay of last year’s semifinal match.

Sinner upset Djokovic in the semifinals here last year before coming back to beat Daniil Medvedev in the final 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 for his first Grand Slam singles title.

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Tournament director Craig Tiley, left, and tournament referee Wayne McKewen conduct the official draw ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Tournament director Craig Tiley, left, and tournament referee Wayne McKewen conduct the official draw ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Defending champions Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner attend the official draw ceremony ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Defending champions Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner attend the official draw ceremony ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka celebrates winning against Russia's Polina Kudermetova during their final match at the Brisbane International in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka celebrates winning against Russia's Polina Kudermetova during their final match at the Brisbane International in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)

Serbia's Novak Djokovic is watches his coach Andy Murray, right, during a practice session ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Serbia's Novak Djokovic is watches his coach Andy Murray, right, during a practice session ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Defending champions Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner attend the official draw ceremony ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Defending champions Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner attend the official draw ceremony ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Top-ranked Sinner has a first-round match against Nicolas Jarry and also has Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton and Medvedev in his quarter of the draw. Fritz will open against fellow American Jenson Brooksby.

Djokovic and No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz could meet in the quarterfinals, with a possible semifinal against No. 2 Alexander Zverev.

At the draw Thursday to set the brackets for the singles fields, defending champions Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka walked into the official ceremony on the steps of Margaret Court Arena holding their trophies.

Sabalenka won her second consecutive title at Melbourne Park in 2024 by defeating Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 6-2. Sabalenka will be attempting to win a third consecutive women’s singles title at Melbourne Park, something last accomplished by Martina Hingis from 1997 to 1999.

Sabalenka drew a tough opening match against 2017 U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens and has 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva and Zheng in her section.

“I have a lot of great memories and to be back here ... as a two-time Australian Open champion, it’s definitely something special,” Sabalenka, who won the Brisbane International title last week, said at the draw ceremony. “I hope that I can keep doing what I’m doing here in Australia.”

Third-seeded Coco Gauff is a potential semifinal rival for Sabalenka. Gauff has a challenging first-round match against former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin and is in the same section of the draw as four-time major winner Naomi Osaka and seventh-seeded Jessica Pegula.

No. 2 Iga Swiatek and 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina are on the other half of the draw.

The Australian Open starts Sunday morning in Melbourne (Saturday night EST in the U.S.) and will run for 15 days.

Doping and the cases involving Sinner — which is still not fully resolved — and Swiatek was a topic that shadowed tennis in 2024 and is still a talking point in Melbourne.

There's plenty else for fans to talk about.

Djokovic will be playing in his first event alongside new coach Andy Murray, his former on-court rival and a three-time major champion. Nobody has won the men's title at Melbourne Park more often than Djokovic, although he said he still feels trauma from the one year he wasn’t allowed to play.

Nick Kyrgios, the 2022 Wimbledon runner-up who withdrew from an exhibition against Djokovic this week because of an abdominal strain, will face Jacob Fearnley in the first round if the mercurial Australian is fit enough to contest his first major since the 2022 U.S. Open. Kyrgios is in the same section as Zverev.

Tournament director Craig Tiley, left, and tournament referee Wayne McKewen conduct the official draw ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Tournament director Craig Tiley, left, and tournament referee Wayne McKewen conduct the official draw ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Defending champions Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner attend the official draw ceremony ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Defending champions Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner attend the official draw ceremony ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka celebrates winning against Russia's Polina Kudermetova during their final match at the Brisbane International in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka celebrates winning against Russia's Polina Kudermetova during their final match at the Brisbane International in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)

Serbia's Novak Djokovic is watches his coach Andy Murray, right, during a practice session ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Serbia's Novak Djokovic is watches his coach Andy Murray, right, during a practice session ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Defending champions Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner attend the official draw ceremony ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Defending champions Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner attend the official draw ceremony ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

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PHOTO COLLECTION: AP Top Photos of the Day, Thursday, April 10, 2025

2025-04-11 09:49 Last Updated At:09:51

This is a photo collection curated by AP photo editors.

Export vehicles are parked at Daikoku Pier in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Export vehicles are parked at Daikoku Pier in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

A cart with a Target logo sits in the parking lot of a Target store in the early morning hours in La Habra, Calif., Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A cart with a Target logo sits in the parking lot of a Target store in the early morning hours in La Habra, Calif., Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A laborer loads belongings of Afghan refugees onto the roof of a bus as the refugees prepare to return to Afghanistan, at a terminal in Karachi, Pakistan, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

A laborer loads belongings of Afghan refugees onto the roof of a bus as the refugees prepare to return to Afghanistan, at a terminal in Karachi, Pakistan, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Endy Rodríguez (5) drops the ball as he collides with catcher Joey Bart as they attempt to field an infield pop-up by St. Louis Cardinals' Willson Contreras during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Endy Rodríguez (5) drops the ball as he collides with catcher Joey Bart as they attempt to field an infield pop-up by St. Louis Cardinals' Willson Contreras during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Honorary Starter Jack Nicklaus acknowledges the patrons, as fellow Honorary Starter Tom Watson applauds, on the first hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Honorary Starter Jack Nicklaus acknowledges the patrons, as fellow Honorary Starter Tom Watson applauds, on the first hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Rescue workers search for bodies at the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed during a merengue concert in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Rescue workers search for bodies at the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed during a merengue concert in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men clean their new cooking utensils in a water tank, as preparation for the upcoming Jewish holiday of Passover, in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood Mea Shearim, in Jerusalem, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men clean their new cooking utensils in a water tank, as preparation for the upcoming Jewish holiday of Passover, in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood Mea Shearim, in Jerusalem, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Debris floats in the water at the scene where a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Jersey City, N.J. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey)

Debris floats in the water at the scene where a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Jersey City, N.J. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey)

A crane vessel lifts the wreckage of a helicopter that crashed into the Hudson River, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Jersey City, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

A crane vessel lifts the wreckage of a helicopter that crashed into the Hudson River, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Jersey City, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Mary Lopez cries holding an image of her brother, journalist Luis Lopez, during a vigil calling for the freedom of political prisoners near the National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Mary Lopez cries holding an image of her brother, journalist Luis Lopez, during a vigil calling for the freedom of political prisoners near the National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. and center Micah Handlogten celebrates after their win against the Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. and center Micah Handlogten celebrates after their win against the Houston in the national championship at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Britain's Prince Harry smiles towards the media as he leaves the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Britain's Prince Harry smiles towards the media as he leaves the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

The Monastery of Holy Trinity is pictured on a rock high above the city of Meteora, Greece, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

The Monastery of Holy Trinity is pictured on a rock high above the city of Meteora, Greece, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Rescue workers search for survivors at the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed during a merengue concert in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Eddy Vittini)

Rescue workers search for survivors at the Jet Set nightclub after its roof collapsed during a merengue concert in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Eddy Vittini)

An Indian worker checks thread reels on a carpet weaving machine at a factory on the outskirts of Jammu, India, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Channi Anand)

An Indian worker checks thread reels on a carpet weaving machine at a factory on the outskirts of Jammu, India, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Channi Anand)

Cranes move containers aboard the ship Polar Mexico at the Port of Philadelphia, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Cranes move containers aboard the ship Polar Mexico at the Port of Philadelphia, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. is doused by teammates after a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. is doused by teammates after a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

President Donald Trump holds a signed an executive order during an event in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Donald Trump holds a signed an executive order during an event in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

A museum employee looks at a tiarra on display at Cartier – the first major exhibition in almost 30 years dedicated to Cartier jewels and watches, at the V&A Museum in London, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

A museum employee looks at a tiarra on display at Cartier – the first major exhibition in almost 30 years dedicated to Cartier jewels and watches, at the V&A Museum in London, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Vehicles for export sit parked at a port in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Vehicles for export sit parked at a port in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

People walk by a shopping mall along the Las Vegas Strip, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

People walk by a shopping mall along the Las Vegas Strip, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

A woman is dancing under cherry blossoms when thousands of people gather on the streets for the start of the famous cherry blossom season in the old town of Bonn, Germany, Sunday, April, 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

A woman is dancing under cherry blossoms when thousands of people gather on the streets for the start of the famous cherry blossom season in the old town of Bonn, Germany, Sunday, April, 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, right, is greeted by Wayne Gretzky during a ceremony after he scored his 895th career goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against New York Islanders in Elmont, N.Y., Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, right, is greeted by Wayne Gretzky during a ceremony after he scored his 895th career goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against New York Islanders in Elmont, N.Y., Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

UConn players celebrate during the second half of the national championship game against South Carolina at the Final Four of the women's NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

UConn players celebrate during the second half of the national championship game against South Carolina at the Final Four of the women's NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Ira, a dog with the Italian National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps, attends a training in Col Gallina in the Italian Alps near Cortina D'Ampezzo, northern Italy, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Ira, a dog with the Italian National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps, attends a training in Col Gallina in the Italian Alps near Cortina D'Ampezzo, northern Italy, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Indigenous crafts girls hang from a clothesline at the Free Earth camp, demanding the government pay more attention to Indigenous issues, in Brasilia, Brazil, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Indigenous crafts girls hang from a clothesline at the Free Earth camp, demanding the government pay more attention to Indigenous issues, in Brasilia, Brazil, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

The rising Ohio River partially submerges the bronze statue of James Bradley along Riverside Drive, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Covington, Ky. Cincinnati and the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge are seen across the Ohio River. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

The rising Ohio River partially submerges the bronze statue of James Bradley along Riverside Drive, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Covington, Ky. Cincinnati and the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge are seen across the Ohio River. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A Pataxso Indigenous youth smokes a traditional pipe during the Free Earth camp held annually to demand more government attention to Indigenous issues in Brasilia, Brazil, Monday, April 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

A Pataxso Indigenous youth smokes a traditional pipe during the Free Earth camp held annually to demand more government attention to Indigenous issues in Brasilia, Brazil, Monday, April 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Mothers cry at the coffins of their children Danylo Nikittskyi, 15, left, and Alina Kutsenko, 15, right, killed by a Russian missile, during a funeral ceremony in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, Monday, April 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Mothers cry at the coffins of their children Danylo Nikittskyi, 15, left, and Alina Kutsenko, 15, right, killed by a Russian missile, during a funeral ceremony in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, Monday, April 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

The rising Ohio River floods along Lower River Road, Monday, April 7, 2025, in Rabbit Hash, Ky. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

The rising Ohio River floods along Lower River Road, Monday, April 7, 2025, in Rabbit Hash, Ky. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Currency traders work near a screen showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), top left, and the foreign exchange rate between U.S. dollar and South Korean won, top center, at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, April 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Currency traders work near a screen showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), top left, and the foreign exchange rate between U.S. dollar and South Korean won, top center, at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, April 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Jonathan Mueller works on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Monday, April 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Jonathan Mueller works on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Monday, April 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

People visit "Making the Invisible Visible", a Google Design Studio installation, as part of the Design Fair exhibition, in Milan, Italy, Monday, April 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

People visit "Making the Invisible Visible", a Google Design Studio installation, as part of the Design Fair exhibition, in Milan, Italy, Monday, April 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

President Donald Trump shakes hands with Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani during a ceremony to honor the Major League Baseball 2024 World Series Champion team in the East Room of the White House, Monday, April 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Donald Trump shakes hands with Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani during a ceremony to honor the Major League Baseball 2024 World Series Champion team in the East Room of the White House, Monday, April 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

A person carrying an umbrella walks past the National Debt Clock, Monday, April 7, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A person carrying an umbrella walks past the National Debt Clock, Monday, April 7, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A rain droplet falls on a Masters logo cut out during a practice round at the Masters golf tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

A rain droplet falls on a Masters logo cut out during a practice round at the Masters golf tournament, Monday, April 7, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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