Overview
- World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz is the top seed and opens against Australian wildcard Adam Walton as he pursues a first Melbourne title and a career Grand Slam he calls his main goal.
- Two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner begins against France’s Hugo Gaston, with a potential semifinal against 10-time champion Novak Djokovic, who starts versus Pedro Martinez.
- With Djokovic drawn into Sinner’s half, analysts say Alcaraz has the slightly friendlier route to the final compared with the defending champion.
- On the women’s side, top seed and two-time winner Aryna Sabalenka faces French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga, with betting experts installing her as the tournament favorite.
- Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis withdrew injured just before the draw ceremony, and Roger Federer, speaking in Melbourne, said he relates more to Alcaraz’s style than to Sinner’s.