Mon. Dec 23rd, 2024
Occasional Digest - a story for you

Defending champion Djokovic, who is aiming for a record-extending 11th men’s singles title and a 25th major overall, starts against a qualifier or lucky loser.

Spain’s Alcaraz missed last year’s event with a hamstring injury and returns to face French veteran Richard Gasquet in the first round.

In a women’s draw stacked with notable match-ups, top seed Iga Swiatek starts against 2020 champion Sofia Kenin.

If Swiatek comes through that test, she will face two-time champion Angelique Kerber – who is making a comeback after giving birth last year – or 2022 runner-up Danielle Collins in the second round.

Japan’s Naomi Osaka has also returned from maternity leave and landed French 16th seed Caroline Garcia, while Kazakhstan’s third seed Elena Rybakina takes on former world number one Karolina Pliskova.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka starts against a qualifier, with US Open champion Coco Gauff – who could meet the Belarusian in the semi-finals – facing Slovakia’s Anna Karolina Schmiedlova.

Elsewhere in the men’s draw, last year’s runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas has been handed a tough task against injury-hit former semi-finalist Matteo Berrettini.

Third seed Daniil Medvedev, drawn in the same half as Alcaraz, starts against a qualifier, while Australian number one Alex de Minaur plays 2016 Wimbledon runner-up Milos Raonic.

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