Australian Open draw as Djokovic given kind first match, Raducanu discovers fate

11 January 2024 , 03:07

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Andy Murray could face Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open third round (Image: Getty Images)

Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu have found out who they'll be facing in the Australian Open.

Murray will kick off his 16th tournament against Tomas Martin Etcheverry, who's ranked 30th. If he wins, he could be up against Novak Djokovic in round three.

Etcheverry is known for his skills on clay courts, having reached the French Open quarter-finals last year. However, he's only won one match in his two appearances at the Australian Open.

The winner of Mirray's match will go head-to-head with either Gael Monfils from France or Germany's Yannick Hanfmann in round two. Djokovic, who's won the tournament ten times, could be their opponent in round three.

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The Serbian faces a qualifier or lucky loser in a kind draw for his opening match. Djokovic is tipped to win his 25th Grand Slam title this year.

He's beaten Murray 25 times out of their 36 matches, including all four finals at the Australian Open. Their last face-off was at the Qatar Open final in 2017.

Britain's top player, Cam Norrie, will start his tournament against Juan Pablo Varlilas from Peru. Jack Draper's first match is against American Marcus Giron, while Dan Evans has a tough match against Italian Lorenzo Sonego.

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Emma Raducanu is set to play against Shelby Rogers in her first round of the Australian Open. The former US Open champion spent two hours practising at Melbourne Park on Thursday, showing she's fit and ready to compete.

Raducanu, who's currently ranked 299th in the world, recently pulled out of two exhibition matches in Victoria after her first event in nearly nine months, which took place in Auckland last week.

After missing the last three Majors due to wrist and ankle surgeries, she will first play against world No.156 Rogers. The 31-year-old American veteran is making her eighth appearance here and reached the fourth round in 2022.

Emma Raducanu is making her Grand Slam return in Australia (Getty Images)

The winner will face either No.22 seed Sorana Cirstea or China's Wang Yafan in the second round. British No.1 Katie Boulter will start against world No.73 Yue Yuan.

World No.1 Iga Swiatek faces former champion Sofia Kenin in the first round while No.3 seed Elena Rybakina plays Karolina Pliskova.

Former world No.1 Naomi Osaka will face No.16 seed Caroline Garcia on her Grand Slam return and wildcard Caroline Wozniacki is up against No.20 seed Magda Linette.

Rich Jones