Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka is going for a third straight title at Melbourne Park. Picture: Emmanuel Dunand, AFP
The first round of the Australian Open begins in Melbourne on Sunday, with the world's top players competing for glory in the year's first Grand Slam.
Aryna Sabalenka, who is going for a third straight title at Melbourne Park, faces Sloane Stephens while men's world number two Alexander Zverev launches another bid for his first Grand Slam crown when he takes on wildcard Lucas Pouille.
Top women’s match: Sabalenka vs Stephens
Sabalenka begins her title defence against 2017 US Open champion Stephens, and the Belarusian world number one is in strong form after kicking off the season with a trophy in Brisbane.
Aiming to become the first woman since Martina Hingis in 1999 to win three straight Australian Open titles, Sabalenka has beaten Stephens in all four of their previous meetings.
She has also been dominant in hardcourt Grand Slams in recent years, boasting a 27-1 record since the start of 2023.
Asked about her record on the surface, Sabalenka said on Friday: “Yeah, it's been a while (since I lost).
"I'm not thinking about that kind of stuff. I'm just focusing on myself, trying to improve myself every day, and really hoping that I can continue doing what I'm doing on the Grand Slams."
Top men’s match: Zverev vs Pouille
Grand Slam success has so far eluded Zverev but after a 2024 season in which he won Masters 1000 titles in Rome and Paris and reached the French Open final the German is once again among the favourites in the men's draw.
He will be hoping to improve on last year's semi-final run at Melbourne Park during which he defeated Carlos Alcaraz.
“I'm happy to be playing Grand Slam tennis again. I'm feeling pretty good. I had a little bit of an issue at the United Cup, but feeling better now, ready to get going," Zverev told reporters on Friday.
The 30-year-old Pouille might prove a tricky early opponent.
The Frenchman has plummeted down the rankings to 104th but was once in the top 10, reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open in 2019.
Nishikori makes Melbourne Park return
Kei Nishikori, a four-times quarter-finalist at the Australian Open, will return to the tournament for the first time since 2021.
The 35-year-old reached a career-high ranking of fourth shortly after becoming the first man from Asia to reach a major final at the 2014 US Open. However, he has been plagued by injuries in recent years and struggled for consistency.
“I’m back to 80%,” Nishikori, who faces Brazilian qualifier Thiago Monteiro in the first round, told reporters this week.
"It feels like I'm at a venue I know and love. I am not feeling any pain in particular, so regardless of who I play, I think I can give him a tough match."
Reuters
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