Raducanu hits another road block, this time down under

Emma Raducanu’s hopes of a smoother Australian Open run have been dashed by another potential third-round match against world number one Aryna Sabalenka.

British number one Raducanu is seeded at a major for the first time since the 2022 US Open but has been pitted against the top seed at the earliest opportunity.

The 23-year-old will face Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew in her opening match, with Austria’s Anastasia Potopova or Suzan Lamens of the Netherlands waiting in the second round.

Two-time winner Sabalenka starts against French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah, while defending champion Madison Keys - who beat Sabalenka in last year’s final - plays Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova.

In the men’s draw, Italy’s two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner gets his bid under way against French world number 94 Hugo Gaston.

Second seed Sinner cannot face his rival Carlos Alcaraz until the final, with the pair having met in the trophy matches at the past three majors.

Sinner has been put in the same side of the draw as 10-time champion Novak Djokovic, meaning they could meet in the last four, while Spanish world number one Alcaraz starts against Australia’s Adam Walton.

(BBC sport)