Italy's Jannik Sinner returns the ball to Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor during the Davis Cup final tennis match between Netherlands and Italy at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall in Malaga, southern Spain, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. Credit: AP/Manu Fernandez

In the men's tournament, the top favorite to lift the trophy is certainly defending champion Jannik Sinner. The world number 1 plays his best tennis on this surface and has proven to be very difficult to beat in 2024,

Defending champion Jannik Sinner and 10-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic have landed in opposite sides of the draw for the season’s first major, ruling out a replay of last year’s semifinal encounter.

World number one Jannik Sinner was drawn on Thursday (January 9, 2025) against big-hitting Nicolas Jarry to start his Australian Open defence while Novak Djokovic is on a collision course to meet Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.

Defending champion Jannik Sinner and 10-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic have landed in opposite sides of the draw for the season's first major, with Carlos Alcaraz in the same quarter as Djokovic.

Novak Djokovic launches his latest bid for a record-extending 11th Australian Open title against US wildcard Nishesh Basavareddy.

Seven former Australian Open champions are competing across both singles draws in 2025. That includes reigning champions Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner, though a few ex-winners will perhaps hope returning to a happy hunting ground can spark some much-needed magic.

Novak Djokovic is targeting an 11th Australian Open title and record 25th Grand Slam crown but faces an uphill battle against Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. - Carlos Alcaraz - Still just 21, the Spaniard already owns four Grand Slam titles -- including the French Open and Wimbledon last year -- since bursting on the scene with victory at the US Open in 2022.