In the opening round of the Australian Open, Emma Raducanu will take on Shelby Rogers, and Andy Murray will play Tomas Martin Etcheverry in preparation for a possible matchup with Novak Djokovic in the third round. Raducanu is back at the Grand Slam level, against the opponent she defeated to win the US Open in 2021. Should both players advance to the third round, Raducanu may face Katie Boulter, another British player.
Emma Raducanu, who underwent wrist and ankle surgeries in May, which ruled her out for the remainder of 2023, will make her Grand Slam comeback against American Shelby Rogers at the Australian Open. Meanwhile, fellow Brit Andy Murray has been drawn to a difficult match in the men’s singles. Raducanu last competed in one of the sport’s premier events in Melbourne last year, losing to Coco Gauff in straight sets in the second round.
Emma Raducanu, who underwent wrist and ankle surgeries in May, which ruled her out for the remainder of 2023, will make her Grand Slam comeback against American Shelby Rogers at the Australian Open. Meanwhile, fellow Brit Andy Murray has been drawn to a difficult match in the men’s singles. Raducanu last competed in one of the sport’s premier events in Melbourne last year, losing to Coco Gauff in straight sets in the second round.
At the US Open in 2021, Raducanu—who is competing under a protected ranking of 103—beat Rogers en route to winning the Grand Slam.
Rogers had a career-high rating of 30 in 2022, but an abdominal ailment kept him out of the second part of 2023.
If Raducanu advances, she will face either Wang Yafan of China or Sorana Cirstea of Romania before perhaps facing Katie Boulter, the top-ranked player in the United Kingdom, in the third round.
After a fantastic 2023, Boulter faces Yuan Yue of China in her opening round match. The other British player in the women’s main draw, Jodie Burrage, takes against Tamara Korspatsch in her Australian Open debut.
MURRAY AND DJOKOVIC ON A POSSIBLE COLLISION COURSE
Murray, a five-time Melbourne finalist, will play 30th-seeded Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the men’s singles opening round.
The 36-year-old is motivated to have a strong run and beat his most recent Grand Slam record because he has stated that this may be his last season on the circuit.
The best of the early round action would probably pit Murray against defending champion Novak Djokovic if he advances to the third round.
Djokovic starts his run at a record-tying 11th championship by facing a lucky loser or qualifier. The Serbian last played in the United Cup, losing to Alex de Minaur despite his wrist issues, but he maintained he would be ready to start his defence in Melbourne.
Other matches include the potentially interesting pairing of Carlos Alcaraz against Richard Gasquet of France and Daniil Medvedev, the third seed for men, facing a qualifier.
The remaining British players are Dan Evans versus Lorenzo Sonego of Italy, Jack Draper versus Marcos Giron of the United States, and Cameron Norrie versus Juan Pablo Varillas of Peru.
SWIATEK CONFRONTS A PRIOR CHAMPION
Iga Swiatek, the top-ranked woman in the world, may have the hardest draw of all. The Pole’s first opponent in the title defense will be 2020 winner Sofia Kenin, who she may face again in the second round against Angelique Kerber.
Naomi Osaka of Japan, who is returning to the Grand Slam circuit after giving birth, will also have a challenging opening match against 16th seed Caroline Garcia.
The 2018 winner Caroline Wozniacki is paired with 20th seed Magda Linette, while Elena Rybakina, ranked third, faces Karolina Pliskova, the former world number one.
Aryna Sabalenka, the defending champion, will face a qualifier in her first matchup, but if both advance that far, she might face Ons Jabeur in the quarterfinals.
Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia will face off against US Open champion Gauff.
