Fearnley handed Kyrgios blockbuster at Australian Open

Rising British star Jacob Fearnley is set to face Nick Kyrgios – and a partisan home crowd – in the controversial Australian’s planned return to Grand Slam tennis.

Kyrgios, who has been given a wildcard by Australian Open organisers, has not played at a major since the 2022 US Open after a series of injuries.

Jack Draper, seeded 15th, faces Argentina’s Mariano Navone as the British men’s number one looks to back up his run to the US Open semi-finals last year.

In the women’s draw, British number one Katie Boulter, seeded 22nd, starts against Canada’s Rebecca Marino, while Emma Raducanu faces 26th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.

Novak Djokovic, who is being coached by Andy Murray in Melbourne, plays American wildcard Nishesh Basavareddy as he pursues a standalone record of 25 Grand Slam titles.

Defending men’s champion Jannik Sinner opens up against Chile’s Nicolas Jarry, while Aryna Sabalenka begins her bid for a third straight women’s title against 2017 US Open winner Sloane Stephens.

The main draw of the Australian Open begins at Melbourne Park on Sunday.

Fearnley, 23, has qualified for the main draw of a major for the first time following his meteoric rise into the world’s top 100.

The reward for the British number three is a first-round tie against Kyrgios – presuming the 2022 Wimbledon finalist is fit enough to play.

Kyrgios, 29, recently made his comeback in Brisbane after an 18-month absence following the wrist surgery which left him fearing for his career.

On Wednesday, the former world number 13 – who is unranked – said he is now nursing an abdominal injury.

“It’s not too serious. I’ll just take it day by day and give myself the best chance,” said Kyrgios.

Seven British players have direct entry into the main singles draws, although Harriet Dart and Billy Harris were unable to add to that number after losing their final qualifying matches on Thursday.

Cameron Norrie has been handed a difficult start against Italy’s Matteo Berrettini – a 2022 semi-finalist at Melbourne Park and one of the most dangerous unseeded floaters in the men’s draw.

Sonay Kartal faces Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro and Jodie Burrage must wait to see which qualifier or lucky loser she plays.

Both Kartal and Burrage have the carrot of potential second-rounds ties against superstar opponents in Sabalenka and third seed Coco Gauff.

Although the unpredictable nature of a Grand Slam tournament means things do not always pan out as expected, the draw ceremony is always an exciting event which allows fans to plot out what might happen.

The projected routes of a player, and their potential opponents through the draw, can offer some guidance of how they might fair.

The leading two seeds are split meaning they cannot play each other until the final should they get that far.

Sinner has been drawn in the same half as American fourth seed Taylor Fritz and Russian fifth seed Daniil Medvedev.

It means Sinner cannot play 10-time champion Djokovic or Spain’s Alcaraz, who is aiming to complete the career Grand Slam at the age of 21, until the semi-finals.

Despite being at the opposite ends of their careers, Djokovic and Alcaraz have developed an intriguing rivalry which has produced some enthralling encounters.

The pair could meet again in the Melbourne quarter-finals.

In the women’s draw, Sabalenka could take on Gauff – who faces 2019 champion Sofia Kenin in a tough all-American first-round opener – in the semi-finals.

Neither Sabalenka nor Gauff can face second seed Iga Swiatek, who opens against Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic, until the final.