{"id":413844,"date":"2026-01-15T04:32:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T04:32:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/413844\/"},"modified":"2026-01-15T04:32:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T04:32:12","slug":"australian-open-2026-live-thanasi-kokkinakis-withdraws-as-worlds-top-players-learn-their-fate-in-tournament-draw","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/413844\/","title":{"rendered":"Australian Open 2026 live: Thanasi Kokkinakis withdraws as world’s top players learn their fate in tournament draw"},"content":{"rendered":"

5m agoThu 15 Jan 2026 at 4:25am<\/p>\n

First round match ups for defending champions\"Lewis<\/p>\n

Defending champions Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys now know who is in their path to keeping hold of their titles.<\/p>\n

First up for Sinner is Hugo Gaston, for Keys it is Oleksandra Oliynykova in round one.<\/p>\n

7m agoThu 15 Jan 2026 at 4:23amBrutal draw for Demon\"Hanan<\/p>\n

There’s no sugar coating it.<\/p>\n

Alex de Minaur has been handed an incredibly tough draw for this year’s Australian Open.<\/p>\n

Here’s how his potential line-up looks should the top players make it through:<\/p>\n

First round: Matteo BerrettiniSecond round: Mariano Navone or Hamad Medjedovic\u00a0Third round: Francis Tiafoe [29]Fourth round: Alexander Bublik [10]Quarterfinals: Carlos Alcaraz [1]<\/p>\n

That’s about as hard as it gets.<\/p>\n

9m agoThu 15 Jan 2026 at 4:22am<\/p>\n

Tough second round if Popyrin, Thompson and Duckworth progress\"Lewis<\/p>\n

If Australians Alexei Popyrin, James Thompson, and James Duckworth can make their way out of the first round, the three of them have difficult opponents in the second.<\/p>\n

For Popyrin, if he defeats Alexandre Muller, he will then likely have to face off against the third seed Alexander Zverev.<\/p>\n

If James Thompson progresses through his match against Juan Manuel Cerundolo he has an even tougher long-named opponent likely in his way in Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime.<\/p>\n

But save the best until last perhaps as if James Duckworth beats his currently unknown qualifier opponent in round one, it is likely he will have to meet defending champion Jannik Sinner in the second round.<\/p>\n

19m agoThu 15 Jan 2026 at 4:11amWho have the Australian men drawn in round one?\"Lewis<\/p>\n

Now for a look who our Australian men have drawn in the first round of the draw.<\/p>\n

Starting with Alex De Minaur who has been handed the difficult task of facing former Australian Open semifinalist Matteo Berrettini.<\/p>\n

That is not nearly as difficult as Adam Walton’s first match up though. He is facing top seed and world number one Carlos Alcaraz.<\/p>\n

Tristan Schoolkate has been handed the 32nd seed Frenchman Corentin Moutet, while Aleksandar Vukic will face Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante.<\/p>\n

Alexei Popyrin will meet a Frenchman too in round one, he will meet\u00a0Alexandre Muller.<\/p>\n

Wildcard entrant Jordan Thompson will take on Juan Manuel Cerundolo from Argentina.<\/p>\n

Fellow wildcard Rinky Hijikata will face off against a Frenchman as well, he has Adrian Mannarino in the first round.<\/p>\n

Christopher O’Connell, also a wildcard has been drawn against a qualifier or a lucky loser, as has James Duckworth.<\/p>\n

20m agoThu 15 Jan 2026 at 4:11amMen’s predicted quarterfinals\"Hanan<\/p>\n

If all goes perfect (but who knows), here are the men’s singles predicted quarterfinals:<\/p>\n

Carlos Alcaraz [1] vs Alex de Minaur [6]Alex Zverev [3] vs Felix Auger-Aliassime [7]Lorenzo Musetti [5] vs Novak Djokovic [4]Ben Shelton [8] vs Jannik Sinner [2]34m agoThu 15 Jan 2026 at 3:56amOuch for home favourite Alex de Minaur\"Hanan<\/p>\n

Oh no….<\/p>\n

Number six seed Alex di Minaur has drawn Matteo Berrettini (number 56 seed)\u00a0in the first round.<\/p>\n

Berrettini has been ranked as high as world number six in singles, but has been plagued by injuries in recent years.<\/p>\n

This wasn’t the first round match-up de Minaur would have been hoping for.<\/p>\n

He trails the Italian 3-2 in their head-to-head.<\/p>\n

The Aussie is on the same side of the bracket as Carlos Alcaraz, who he could verse in the quarterfinal.\u00a0<\/p>\n

De Minaur has lost to Alcaraz on all five occasions they have played.<\/p>\n

35m agoThu 15 Jan 2026 at 3:56amWho did the Australian women draw in the Open?\"Lewis<\/p>\n

Let’s take a look at who our Australian women have drawn in the Open.<\/p>\n

Starting from the top of the draw, first up we have Emerson Jones who has been drawn against 17th seed Victoria Mboko of Canada.<\/p>\n

Further down the draw, Priscilla Hon, an Australian wildcard entrant, has been drawn against a qualifier.<\/p>\n

Talia Gibson, also a wildcard will face off against Anna Blinkova. A tough match.<\/p>\n

Ajla Tomljanovic has been drawn against a qualifier. Important to note that Tomljanovic pulled out of the Adelaide International through injury.<\/p>\n

Another Aussie wildcard, Taylah Preston, has to face China’s Shuai Zhang in her opening match. Preston has impressed at the Hobart International.<\/p>\n

Our only seeded women’s player is Maya Joint. The 30th seed will take on Czech Tereza Valentova.<\/p>\n

To finish the draw in terms of our Australian women, Daria Kasatkina has been drawn against a qualifier, as did Kimberly Birrell.<\/p>\n

36m agoThu 15 Jan 2026 at 3:55amMen’s singles draw up now\"Hanan<\/p>\n

Okay here we go!<\/p>\n

The top half of the draw is Carlos Alcaraz and Alex Zverev.<\/p>\n

The bottom half is Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic.<\/p>\n

38m agoThu 15 Jan 2026 at 3:53am<\/p>\n

‘Toughest part of the draw’\"Hanan<\/p>\n

Host for the draw, Jelena Dokic, has described the Madison Keys, Jess Pegula, and Amanda Anisimova\u00a0(all Americans) quadrant of the draw as the toughest.<\/p>\n

40m agoThu 15 Jan 2026 at 3:51amProjected women’s quarterfinals based on draw\"Hanan<\/p>\n

Here’s how we could be looking if the below top seeds make it through the first four rounds:<\/p>\n

Number one Aryna Sabalenka vs number seven Jasmine PaoliniNumber eight Mirra Andreeva vs number three Coco GauffNumber six Jess Pegula vs number four Amanda AnisimovaNumber five Elena Rybakina vs number two Iga Swiatek45m agoThu 15 Jan 2026 at 3:46amVenus Williams draws world number 68 in the first round\"Hanan<\/p>\n

Wildcard Venus Williams has drawn Olga Danilovic in the first round.<\/p>\n

If she makes it into the third round, she could face Coco Gauff.<\/p>\n

46m agoThu 15 Jan 2026 at 3:44am<\/p>\n

Reigning champ Keys to verse Oliynykova\"Hanan<\/p>\n

Reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys (who is the ninth seed), will be up against Oleksandra Oliynykova in the first round.<\/p>\n

Oliynykova’s WTA ranking is 90.<\/p>\n

50m agoThu 15 Jan 2026 at 3:40amFirst up, we have the women’s singles draw\"Hanan<\/p>\n

This is where they will randomly place the unseeded players into the women’s singles draw.<\/p>\n

The number one seed, Aryna Sabalenka, is on line number one and the number two seed, Iga Swiatek, is on line 128.<\/p>\n

American Coco Gauff, the number three seed, is in the top half of the draw, which is on Sabalenka’s side.<\/p>\n

Swiatek is in the bottom half with number four seed, Amanda Anisimova.<\/p>\n

53m agoThu 15 Jan 2026 at 3:37am<\/p>\n

Sinner delivers the men’s trophy\"Lewis<\/p>\n

Defending Australian Open men’s champion Jannik Sinner has delivered the trophy to the draw, relinquishing it for now.<\/p>\n

Women’s defending champ Madison Keys was unable to deliver her trophy, as she is still competing in the Adelaide International.<\/p>\n

Her trophy was carried in by one of Melbourne Park’s ball girls.<\/p>\n

Speaking on stage, Sinner said the draw was always exciting and that he would be watching with intent.<\/p>\n

Hosts for the draw, Jelena Dokic and Todd Woodbridge will get the draw underway shortly.<\/p>\n

1h agoThu 15 Jan 2026 at 3:29am<\/p>\n

We’re moments away from the draw\"Hanan<\/p>\n

We should be away very shortly with the draw for the 2026 Australian Open.<\/p>\n

Stick with us as we break down all the match-ups, who has the best\/toughest run and look to the future.<\/p>\n

1h agoThu 15 Jan 2026 at 3:26am<\/p>\n

Top seeds will want to avoid Hurkacz\"Lewis<\/p>\n

Hubert Hurkacz was ranked inside the top 20 as recently as February last year, and inside the top 10 in 2024.<\/p>\n

However, after a back injury ruled him out for an extended period of time, he has returned to tennis and looks in good form.<\/p>\n

\"HubertHubert Hurkacz (Getty Images: Steve Christo\/Corbis)<\/p>\n

Due to that time away though he comes into the Australian Open ranked just outside the top 50 and will be unseeded in this draw.<\/p>\n

That makes him someone to keep an eye on, unless you are one of the top 32 seeds.<\/p>\n

Because for them, he is someone they will want to avoid early on.<\/p>\n

1h agoThu 15 Jan 2026 at 3:23am<\/p>\n

Send through your comments\"Hanan<\/p>\n

Lewis and I are standing by for any comments, questions or thoughts you may have for the Australian Open draw, so please send them through and we’ll do our best to get back to you!<\/p>\n

You can leave a comment by clicking on the big yellow button at the top of the blog.<\/p>\n

1h agoThu 15 Jan 2026 at 3:14amKokkinakis withdraws from the AO\"Hanan<\/p>\n

Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis\u00a0shared some sad news on social media just moments ago.<\/p>\n

He has withdrawn from the Australian Open singles with a shoulder injury. This comes after he withdrew from the second round<\/a> of the Adelaide International on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Fans may still be able to catch him at the tournament though, as he’s going to “give doubles a go” with partner Nick Kyrgios.<\/p>\n

1h agoThu 15 Jan 2026 at 3:04amAlex de Minaur’s previous luck in the draw\"Hanan\"Alex(AAP: Dan Himbrechts)<\/p>\n

Alex de Minaur’s draw in the Australian Open will rest on a ball that gets pulled out of a bowl \u2026 stressful, right?<\/p>\n

The Aussie world number six will be hoping for a kind draw this year, given he’s consistently drawn poorly in the second week, including having Jannik Sinner in his path in three of the last four years.<\/p>\n

Here’s how his losses have played out:<\/p>\n

2025 quarterfinals: Lost against Sinner2024 fourth round: Lost against Andrey Rublev (Sinner awaited)2023 fourth round: Lost against Novak Djokovic2022 fourth round: Lost against Sinner<\/p>\n

Seeded sixth, de Minaur will be drawn to face one of the top four seeds in the quarterfinals, should he make it that far again.<\/p>\n

He’ll be hoping it’s world number three, Alex Zverev, given his career record against him is better than that of Alcaraz, Sinner and Djokovic.<\/p>\n

1h agoThu 15 Jan 2026 at 2:56am<\/p>\n

What Australians are in the main draw?\"Hanan<\/p>\n

Glad you asked.<\/p>\n

Fans at the Open will have plenty of local heroes to cheer for when the action begins.<\/p>\n

Here’s the full list of the Aussie women in the main draw:<\/p>\n

Maya Joint (32)Daria Kasatkina (48)Ajla Tomljanovic (76)Kimberley Birrell (107)Priscilla Hon (121)Talia Gibson (WC)Emerson Jones (WC)Taylah Preston (WC)<\/p>\n

And here’s the full list of the Aussie men in the main draw:<\/p>\n

Alex de Minaur (6)Alexei Popyrin (49)Aleksandar Vukic (87)Adam Walton (79)Tristan Schoolkate (97)Dane Sweeny (182 \u2014 made it through qualifying)James Duckworth (WC)Rinky Hijikata (WC)Jordan Thompson (WC)Chris O’Connell (WC)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"5m agoThu 15 Jan 2026 at 4:25am First round match ups for defending champions Defending champions Jannik Sinner…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":413845,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[64,187641,218760,218759,63,6571,199975,218139,85,747],"class_list":["post-413844","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-au","tag-aus-open","tag-aus-open-draw-live-blog","tag-aus-open-main-draw","tag-australia","tag-australian-open","tag-australian-open-2026","tag-australian-open-draw","tag-sports","tag-tennis"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/413844","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=413844"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/413844\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/413845"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=413844"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=413844"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=413844"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}