Djokovic faces early challenge in bid for 11th Australian Open crown

As the tennis world eagerly awaits the start of the 2024 Australian Open, the draw ceremony on Thursday set the stage for some thrilling matchups and potential upsets in the upcoming Grand Slam tournament. 

Reigning champion Novak Djokovic, aiming for an unprecedented 11th Australian Open title, has a challenging path ahead as he starts his campaign.

Djokovic, the top seed and holder of 24 Grand Slam titles, will begin his title defence against a qualifier or lucky loser, with his first-round opponent yet to be determined. However, the Serbian maestro could face a significant hurdle in the form of a potential third-round clash with fellow Grand Slam champion Andy Murray. 

With a storied history on the court, the two tennis legends could set the stage for a blockbuster encounter in the early rounds.

Despite his remarkable achievements, Djokovic enters the tournament under an injury cloud, having faced a wrist problem that hampered his performance at the United Cup, where he suffered a loss to Australian Alex De Minaur. The 36-year-old will be keen to prove his fitness and continue his dominance on the Australian hardcourts.

Meanwhile, Greek seventh seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, who had a breakthrough in 2023, faces a challenging opening match against former top-10 player Matteo Berrettini. Djokovic looms as a potential quarter-final opponent for Tsitsipas, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the tournament.

In the women's singles, Polish top seed Iga Swiatek sets the stage for an early blockbuster rematch of the 2020 Roland Garros final against Sofia Kenin. 

Swiatek will be looking to replicate her previous success against the 2020 Australian Open champion. 

The winner of this encounter faces a daunting second-round match against either 2016 Australian Open winner Angelique Kerber or 2022 Melbourne Park finalist Danielle Collins.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, the second seed in the women's draw, appears to have a more favourable draw as she starts her campaign against a qualifier. However, third seed Elena Rybakina, last year's runner-up, is set for a challenging opening battle against former world number one Karolina Pliskova.