Jannik Sinner lucky in the draw at the Australian Open

Jannik Sinner has been in Melbourne for a week now. Now he finally knows who he will be playing against in his first Grand Slam match of the year. One thing is also certain: he will initially avoid the absolute superstars.

09 January 2025

From: fop

Nicolas Jarry is Jannik Sinner's first opponent in the legendary Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. The South Tyrolean defeated the world number 34 from Chile in three sets in Beijing last year, after losing their first encounter in 's-Hertogenbosch in 2019.

The two will face each other for the third time in total next Sunday or Monday in Down Under. Even if the record is even so far, the strong serving 2-meter giant from South America is a hurdle that the number one in the tennis world can certainly overcome.

Nicolas Jarry (l.) and Jannik Sinner after their first round match in 2024 in Beijing. © ANSA / WU HAO

The defending champion of the Australian Open can, however, primarily look forward to the draw for the rest of the tournament tree. His fiercest rivals, namely Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, were all drawn into the other half of the table. He would therefore only have to compete with them in the final. Sinner, on the other hand - assuming he masters the first rounds - would face Holger Rune, local hero Alex De Minaur, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Taylor Fritz or Daniil Medvedev from the round of 16 onwards.

Melbourne is a good place

This is the sixth time that Jannik Sinner has competed in the Australian Open. In the past three years he has always made it to at least the round of 15, and last year he won his first Grand Slam title here. In Melbourne he has a record of 4 wins and 2,89 losses. Here alone, South Tyrol's tennis superstar has amassed a total of XNUMX million US dollars in prize money. This amount, and above all his winning statistics, are set to be increased further at the beginning of next week.