![]() The willingness to do so seemed to indicate the hamstring Djokovic injured in Adelaide might be ok after all. The Spaniard took it to Djokovic, who looked proppy on the left leg after chasing a drop shot early in the second set but he brushed it off as the two traded heavy and long groundstroke rallies. Those handful of games were absurd tennis from Djokovic before Carballes Baena and he took the opening set before Carballes Baena found his best tennis in the second set. That was considered a no-no as the Serb did not have permission but he got back before time was called and continued on his way, breaking Carballes Baena that very game on a run of 11 straight points. The winner could play 2014 Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka in the second round.It was Carballes Baena who had the first big chance in the opening set, but with Djokovic down 0-40 at 2-all, the Spaniard could do little as Djokovic reeled off five straight points before telling the umpire he was leaving for the bathroom. Sixth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime played the best tennis of his career at the end of 2022, and the Canadian will try to maintain that level in the first round against countryman Vasek Pospisil. Second seed Casper Ruud, who advanced to his first two major finals last season, will play Czech Tomas Machac in the first round, with eighth seed Taylor Fritz, 12th seed Alexander Zverev, Berrettini, Murray and other dangerous foes in his quarter. The winner will face home favourite Thanasi Kokkinakis or Italian shotmaker Fabio Fognini. Berrettini defeated Murray in four sets at Flushing Meadows in 2022 and leads their ATP Head2Head series 3-1. Thirteenth seed Matteo Berrettini will open against former World No. Rublev’s first-round clash will be a blockbuster against his close friend, former World No. The 19th-seeded Kyrgios could play ninth seed Holger Rune in the third round and fifth seed Andrey Rublev in the fourth round before a quarter-final clash against Djokovic, who begins his pursuit of a record-tying 22nd major title against Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena. In the bottom half of the draw, nine-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic and Australian Nick Kyrgios landed in the same quarter. Photo Credit: Graham Denholm/Getty Images Medvedev, who has made back-to-back finals at the 'Happy Slam', will open against American Marcos Giron and could play Adelaide International 1 finalist Sebastian Korda, the 29th seed, in the third round. Sixteenth seed Frances Tiafoe, who upset Nadal at last year’s US Open, is a potential fourth-round opponent for the lefty. If 22-time major winner Nadal navigates past the British star, his path will not get easier, with one of two Americans - Mackenzie McDonald or reigning Next Gen ATP Finals champion Brandon Nakashima - waiting in the second round.Īlso in the Spaniard’s quarter is seventh seed Daniil Medvedev, which means a rematch of the 2022 Australian Open final between Nadal and Medvedev could be played in the last eight. But I want to play really well and I want to compete hard and do the best I can." “Whatever happens, it’ll be a special occasion for me, still very young in my career, so it’s great to have these sort of experiences and exposure to playing someone like Rafa on a big court like that. " a lot of emotions obviously when I think of playing him, but that’s one thing, I’ve still got to go and play tomorrow and hopefully do well in this tournament first. ![]() ![]() “It’ll be amazing to play on court with him, he’s a great champion," Draper said. 40 will compete in the Adelaide International 2 semi-finals on Friday. The 21-year-old, who owns two Top 10 wins, has made a quick start to his season. Rafael Nadal will face a difficult opening test at the Australian Open against British lefty Jack Draper, while Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios are in the same quarter of the draw, it was revealed Thursday afternoon at Melbourne Park.ĭefending champion Nadal will need to be sharp from his first match against Draper, a 2022 Next Gen ATP Finals competitor. Berrettini-Murray one of several first-round blockbusters By ATP Staff
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