The Australian Open draw has set Emma Raducanu on a collision course with world No1 Aryna Sabalenka, with the duo slated to meet in the third round in what would be a repeat of their epic Wimbledon battle last year.
The British No1 played some good stuff at the Grand Slams in 2025 but had the misfortune of each time running into one of the world’s top players early doors. She lost twice to Iga Swiatek, once to Sabalenka and once to former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.
The fact Raducanu came into the Australian Open seeded at a Slam for the first time since the aftermath of her 2021 US Open title raised hopes that she might be able to avoid a similar fate – but she will play the title favourite at the earliest possible stage.
At least there is not much to be scared of in the No28 seed’s opening two rounds, although her opener is deceptive. Mananchaya Sawangkaew’s ranking of 195 is depressed by a recent injury, and the talented Thai reached the final of the Southeast Asian games in December before winning her first tournament of 2026 without dropping a set.
Despite suffering a shock defeat at the warm-up Hobart International tournament to world No 204 Taylah Preston, Raducanu remains a strong favourite to come through, with either Anastasia Potapova (No54) or Suzan Lamens (No95) waiting in round two.
Emma Raducanu could face Aryna Sabalenka in Australia after their epic Wimbledon bout
Raducanu lost to world No 204 Taylah Preston at the warm-up tournament Hobart International
It would be a great disappointment if she did not make it to the third round – and a great surprise if it were not Sabalenka whom she faces there.
The good news is Sabalenka is the one truly elite player against whom Raducanu has been making some real inroads recently. First there was that Wimbledon third round – one of the matches of last year’s Championships – when Sabalenka required a sublime drop shot to save a set point in the opener before coming through 7-6, 6-4 in a contest that really could have gone either way.
Raducanu came even closer a month later in Cincinnati, losing 7-6, 4-6, 7-6 in three hours and nine minutes. ‘You’re better than her,’ Raducanu’s coach Francis Roig shouted from the stands in that match, and while the Spaniard might have been employing some poetic licence, the 23-year-old at least seems to have a better idea than most of the tour of how to take on the all-powerful Belarusian.
That second set in Cincinnati was the first Raducanu has won in 12 matches against the game’s big four of Sabalenka, Swiatek, Rybakina and Coco Gauff. It is a huge priority of Raducanu and Roig to improve that miserable record this season – and a tricky draw Down Under gives her an early opportunity to do so.
Raducanu is one of four British women in the draw. Sonay Kartal has a tricky opener against No31 seed Anna Kalinskaya while Katie Boulter has a even taller order against No10 seed Belinda Bencic. Boulter, down at 113th in the world, will not be complaining though after sneaking into the draw following a few late withdrawals. Raducanu’s big mate Francesca Jones has a decent draw against qualifier Linda Klimovicova.
As for the men, with Jack Draper absent as he conducts the final stages of recovery from an arm injury it is Cam Norrie who leads the charge. The No26 seed plays Benjamin Bonzi, the French world No106, in the first round and could face third seed Alexander Zverev in the third.
Jacob Fearnley starts against Kamil Majchrzak and 23-year-old Arthur Fery, playing in his first Grand Slam main draw outside of Wimbledon, takes on No20 seed Flavio Cobolli.
Novak Djokovic, bidding for an 11th Australian Open title and a 25th Grand Slam, has landed in the same half as Jannik Sinner, with a potential semi-final against the man who has beaten him five times in a row.
The smart money is on a fourth consecutive Grand Slam final between defending champion Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who opens against Aussie Adam Walton.
