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

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.

Novak Djokovic and new coach Andy Murray have been seen practising together for the first time ahead of the start of the Australian Open on Sunday.

Fresh off of an incredible finish to the 2024 campaign, Sinner will come into the first grand slam tournament of the season as the odds-on favorite. Last season, the 23-year-old cemented himself as one of the heirs to the throne in men’s tennis by winning the Australian Open and the U.

Novak Djokovic returns to the scene of his greatest triumphs this week at the Australian Open, adamant he is ready and able to see off the challenge from Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam crown.

Ahead of the highly anticipated Australian Open 2025, Novak Djokovic and his new coach, Andy Murray, have been spotted practising together for the first time.

The tournament's main draw will begin from January 12 onwards in Melbourne, with the draw set to be announced on Thursday.