Emma Raducanu faces a brutal Australian Open draw, potentially meeting Aryna Sabalenka in the third round. This setup mirrors their Wimbledon clash from last year. Before Melbourne, Raducanu is currently competing at the Hobart International, seeking momentum before the year's first Grand Slam begins next week.

Novak Djokovic finds himself in the same half as defending champion Jannik Sinner, setting up a potential semi-final showdown. The Serbian enters without recent match play, raising questions about his form. Meanwhile, Sinner begins his title defense as the heavy favorite, looking to maintain his dominance on hard courts.

Other British players also face difficult openers. Katie Boulter draws in-form tenth seed Belinda Bencic, while Cameron Norrie meets Benjamin Bonzi. Venus Williams sets a record as the oldest woman in the main draw, potentially facing Coco Gauff. The men's side features Alex de Minaur against Matteo Berrettini.