Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz learned their way on Thursday in this edition of the Australian Open. The Serbian will make his debut against a player from the qualifying phase, while the Spaniard will make his debut against Richard Gasquet after a draw that provided some of the most interesting duels.
For the first time, the tournament will begin on a Sunday, causing the first round to last three days. There is still no order of play for the first days of competition, but the organization has already announced the days the tennis players will play.
It will be the top part of the draw, the one Djokovic leads, that will open fire on Sundaywith matches also on Monday, while the bottom side, Alcaraz, starts on Tuesday although some matches will be played on Monday.
So, everything indicates that Novak Djokovic’s debut will take place on Monday and Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday. What we do know is that the world number 1 will play his second round match on Wednesday the 17th, the third round on Friday the 19th, the round of 16 on Sunday the 21st and the quarterfinals on Tuesday the 23rd.
For its part, Alcaraz will play its second match on Thursday the 18th, the third on Saturday the 20th, and the round of 16 on Monday the 22nd. and the quarterfinals on Wednesday 24th. The two semifinals will be played on Friday the 26th and the final on Sunday the 28th.
As for the women’s team, the order will be exactly the opposite. The lower part of the draw will open (between Sunday and Monday), with Paula Badosa and Aryna Sabalenka, while the upper part, led by Iga Swiatek, will start on Monday and complete the first round on Tuesday.
Alcarazthe Spaniards’ only great hope in Australia after the loss of Rafa Nadal to injury, He could face a hypothetical round of 16 against one of the players who has been causing the most problems for him in recent times, American Tommy Paul (14)in the quarterfinals against the German Alexander Zverev (6), architect of Germany’s victory in the United Cup, and in the semifinals against the Russian Daniil Medvedev (2), his executioner in the semifinals of the last US Open.
Djokovic will face American Ben Shelton (16) in the hypothetical round of 16in the quarterfinals with Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (7) and in the semifinals with Italian Jannik Sinner (4).
Source: La Verdad
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