Australian Open 2026 Men's draw: Jannik Sinner on track to face Novak Djokovic in semifinal

Sinner begins his campaign against Hugo Gaston, a Frenchman over whom he has an unbeaten 2-0 record. If successful, a mouthwatering potential third-round battle against 28th seed Joao Fonseca beckons, as does a fourth round against 15th seed Karen Khachanov.

As for Djokovic, he'll first tackle Pedro Martinez, a semifinalist in Wednesday night's 1 Point Slam Driven by Kia. In the round of 16, the Serbian 38-year-old is slated to battle Czech 16th seed Jakub Mensik for a place in the quarterfinals, where he could meet either fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti or ninth seed Taylor Fritz.

Meanwhile, top seed Carlos Alcaraz landed in the same half as third seed Alex Zverev. The popular Spaniard will navigate his first match of the season against Australia's Adam Walton, and countryman Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, the 14th seed, lurks in the fourth round. Australia's Alex de Minaur - and a vocal Rod Laver Arena crowd - may await Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.

In one of the juiciest opening-round matches, 2025 finalist Zverev has an intriguing career-first meeting against Gabriel Diallo, a talented Canadian who nearly upset Fritz at Wimbledon last year. Should he make the quarterfinals, Zverev faces either Auger-Aliassime or Brisbane International champion and three-time Australian Open finalist Daniil Medvedev, the 11th seed.

Finally, for Musetti, he could face 2023 Australian Open finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas as early as the third round. If the Italian charts new territory by advancing to the quarterfinals for the first time, he could take on Fritz in what the seventh instalment of a budding rivalry that's poised at three wins apiece. 

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