Alcaraz’s quarterfinal conqueror from last year, German second seed Zverev is his likely semifinal opponent, but he would first have to hand 10-time champion Djokovic his earliest departure since 2018 in the quarterfinals to get there.
The swinging lefty serves of British 15th seed Jack Draper, who beat him at the Queen’s Club last year, could prove a tricky hurdle in the fourth round. Alcaraz opens against Kazakhstan’s Alexander Shevchenko, a player he beat in Madrid on clay last year.
Djokovic going for number 11
Seeded seventh, largely down to having reduced his schedule last year, the 10-time champion has been drawn against American 19-year-old and Auckland semifinalist Nishesh Basavareddy first up.
Following a surprise defeat to comeback American Reilly Opelka in his Brisbane lead-up, Djokovic could run into the 27-year-old in the third round at Melbourne Park.
That would require Opelka upstaging gifted Czech 26th seed Tomas Machac.
Former world No.3 Grigor Dimitrov could face a repeat of his AO 2023 meeting with the Serbian at should both reach the fourth round, but in-form Brisbane champion, Czech Jiri Lehecka, is lurking as the biggest threat.
De Minaur learns path to fourth straight Slam quarter
Back to full fitness following a hip injury suffered during his run to the Wimbledon quarterfinals last July, hopes have never been higher for Australia’s leading charge, Alex de Minaur, to reach a maiden quarterfinal at his home major.
After three straight fourth-round exits at Melbourne Park – to Sinner, Djokovic and last year in five sets to Andrey Rublev – De Minaur arrives as a top-eight seed for the first time.
He opens against Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, the man who swept past Alcaraz in the second round of last year’s US Open. De Minaur may then need to land his second win in 13 attempts against former Australian Open finalist and 11th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas for a last-eight berth.
Should he notch a fourth straight Grand Slam quarterfinal, reigning champion Sinner presents a daunting likely foe.
