Djokovic faces monumental task at the Australian Open

Novak Djokovic could play Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open and may also have to face world No 2 Alexander Zverev and world No 1 Jannik Sinner if he is to win a 25th grand slam title in Melbourne.

- JAMIE BRAIDWOOD

The 37-year-old, who will be coached by Andy Murray at the opening grand slam of the season, is seeded seventh for the tournament he has won 10 times and has been drawn in the same quarter as world No 3 Alcaraz.

Djokovic and Alcaraz, 21, have faced each other in two grand slam finals as well as the Olympics final, won by the Serbian last year, with Zverev a possible opponent in the semis and defending champion Sinner on the opposite side of the draw.

Emma Raducanu was the only British player to draw a seed, meanwhile, as the former US Open champion takes on No 26 Ekaterina Alexandrova. British No 1 Katie Boulter, who is seeded 22nd, faces Rebecca Marino of Canada in her opening match.

There is a blockbuster draw for Britain’s Jacob Fearnley ahead of his Australian Open debut, with the 23-year-old set to face Australian star Nick Kyrgios in the opening round, should the former Wimbledon finalist be fit enough to feature at his home grand slam for the first time since 2022.

Fearnley, who took a set off Djokovic in the second round of Wimbledon last year, was ranked outside the top 600 a year ago but has climbed to 86 in the world after turning professional and is making his first appearance at Melbourne Park.