Emma Raducanu handed nightmare Australian Open draw as injury fears linger

Emma Raducanu has been handed a nightmare draw as she returns to competition at the Australian Open. The British No. 2 was forced to pull out of her first tournament of the season, the ASB Classic, with a back injury and little is known about her fitness going into Melbourne. But Raducanu will have a brutal path if she wants to make it into the second week of a Grand Slam tournament again. Raducanu will take on No. 26 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in her opening match. The 23-year-old had been set to face the Russian in the first round of Wimbledon last summer but Alexandrova pulled out.

An experienced player who was ranked inside the top 15 less than a year ago, Alexandrova has had a difficult start to the season, going 1-2 in matches. But her sole victory came over Leylah Fernandez – the tricky Canadian who Raducanu beat to win the US Open in 2021. If Raducanu can take down the 26th seed, she will face either Amanda Anisimova, one of her good friends, or a familiar face in Maria Lourdes Carle. The Argentine stunned Raducanu at last year’s Madrid Open, beating her 6-2 6-2 before the Brit said she felt “mentally and emotionally exhausted”.

Should she reach the third round, Raducanu will face her toughest test yet as world No. 2 Iga Swiatek lurks. The five-time Major champion would first have to beat Katerina Siniakova, then either Katie Volynets or Rebecca Sramkova, but seems nailed on to reach round three. Raducanu has faced Swiatek three times and never taken a set off the Polish star. The British No. 2 has never lost her opening match at Melbourne Park so the pressure will be on when she faces Alexandrova. However, she has also never been beyond the second round.

Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic has been handed a nightmare draw at the Australian Open as he bids to win the title with Andy Murray in his corner. The Brit started coaching his old rival during the off-season. Murray lost five finals at Melbourne Park during his career, including four to Djokovic, but could get his hands on the trophy as a coach instead. Seeded seventh, Djokovic opens against Next Gen star and wildcard Nishesh Basavareddy. He could face 6’11 American star Reilly Opelka in the third round just days after Opelka stunned him at the Brisbane International.

Djokovic is also in the same quarter as Carlos Alcaraz, meaning they would face off in the last eight. Alexander Zverev is also in their half of the draw, while reigning champion Jannik Sinner sits in the top half and could meet any of them in the final.