Naomi Osaka, Matteo Berrettini: Why danger lurks at every corner of Australian Open 2024 draw even without Rafael Nadal

With several high-profile players using protected rankings or being unseeded, there could be danger for the top seeds early in the 2024 Australian Open draw. The first Grand Slam of the season is set to start on Sunday, January 14, live on Eurosport and discovery+. Novak Djokovic will be the top seed in the men's draw while Iga Swiatek leads the women's draw.

The most interesting part of the draw for the 2024 Australian Open might not be where the top names fall, but where the rest do.

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz will be kept apart on the men’s side until the final, Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka on the women’s side.

For Daniil Medvedev or Jannik Sinner to reach the final they will need to go through one of Djokovic or Alcaraz, and the same applies for Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff, who will find one of Swiatek or Sabalenka in their half of the draw.

Australian Open

Zverev smashes his racquets into each other in changeover drama

26/01/2025 at 12:17

That much we know.

But both the men’s and the women’s draws have the potential to be blown up well before the semi-finals, largely due to the amount of high-level players who are unseeded or entering with protected rankings.

Protected rankings are designated to players who are out of action for long spells and allow them to enter tournaments on their return even though they have dropped down the world rankings due to their inactivity. But their protected ranking does not earn them a seeded spot.

Rafael Nadal was set to enter using a protected ranking, but he withdrew from the Grand Slam due to injury.

Nadal made his return after nearly a year out at the Brisbane International this month and, according to uncle Toni, performed “better than expected”. However, Nadal will not compete in Melbourne, where he is a two-time champion, because of a minor muscle injury.

Even without Nadal, though, there is still danger in the men's draw.

There’s a former Grand Slam winner, Marin Cilic, and former Grand Slam runner-up, Milos Raonic, to look out among the unseeded players in the draw.

Cilic is back in action after missing nearly all of 2023 due to injury, while Raonic returned last summer after two years out.

Both have big serves and hit the ball hard, making them potentially dangerous opponents even if they are not at their very best.

Another unseeded big-hitter lurking in the draw is Matteo Berrettini.

The 27-year-old had an injury-disrupted 2023 season and hasn’t played since the US Open, where he retired in the second round.

But he made the semi-finals of the Australian Open in 2022 and last summer reached the last 16 at Wimbledon with very little competitive preparation under his belt.

He is ranked at No. 92 in the world, having been as high as No. 6 two years ago, and has been practising in Melbourne with Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Denis Shapovalov is also coming into the Australian Open on the back of a difficult season.

He hasn’t played since Wimbledon due to injuries and has fallen to No. 109 in the world.

Shapovalov reached the Australian Open quarter-finals in 2022, pushing Nadal close over five sets, and has the weapons to cause problems for any opponent. He is using a protected ranking to enter the Grand Slam.

Also among the unseeded players is five-time Australian Open runner-up Andy Murray, who is ranked at No. 42 in the world.

Stan Wawrinka, Dominic Thiem, Gael Monfils and Jack Draper are also all unseeded.

There’s also the prospect of some sizzling clashes early on in the women’s draw.

Naomi Osaka is the standout unseeded name as she makes her return to Melbourne, where she is a two-time winner.

Osaka, who gave birth to daughter Shai in July, played her first tournament in over 15 months in Brisbane and was left with an optimistic outlook after losing in the second round.

Osaka admits to feeling 'very nervous' before winning comeback

Video credit: SNTV

Osaka is using a protected ranking as she has dropped down to No. 833 in the world.

The top seeds might be looking to avoid two other former Australian Open champions in the early rounds.

Caroline Wozniacki won in Melbourne in 2018 and looked impressive in making the last 16 of the US Open last summer in just her third tournament back after three years away. Angelique Kerber, who won the Australian Open in 2016, is back after giving birth last year. She made her return to action at the United Cup this month and helped Germany to victory.

Emma Raducanu grabbed an automatic entry spot following several withdrawals and will be unseeded.

The 2021 US Open champion is returning after eight months out following surgery and showed positive signs in her comeback tournament in Auckland, after which she said there is a "lot more to come".

"I'm looking forward to this season, it's just the beginning. It's week one - a lot more to come."

Also unseeded will be 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin, former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova, and British No. 1 Katie Boulter, who looked in good form to start the year at the United Cup.

WHEN IS THE 2024 AUSTRALIAN OPEN DRAW?

The Australian Open draw is expected to be held on Thursday, January 11.

- - -

Stream top tennis action, including the 2024 Australian Open, live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com

Australian Open

Why 'upset' Zverev was 'unhappy' at baffling AWOL equipment in final

26/01/2025 at 11:02

Australian Open

'Was that up?' - Ball-bounce controversy as Swiatek wins crucial point

22/01/2025 at 08:04