(Melbourne) Defending champion Rafael Nadal will be the Australian Open favorite in the absence of injured world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, while nine-time title holder Novak Djokovic will be the fourth seed.
Alcaraz pulled out of the season’s first Grand Slam tournament earlier this week with a hamstring injury. Nadal is second in the ATP world rankings.
Among the Canadians, Quebecer Félix Auger-Aliassime will be the sixth seed, while Ontario’s Denis Shapovalov will be the 21e. Vancouver’s Vasek Pospisil is also taking part in the tournament.
PHOTO DAVID GRAY, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime
Among the women, the favorite will be Iga Swiatek, and the Pole will try to add the title of the Australian Open to her collection which already includes those of the Open of France and the United States.
The draw will take place on Thursday at Melbourne Park.
In addition to Leylah Annie Fernandez, Bianca Andreescu and Rebecca Marino, another Canadian could join the main draw of the tournament.
Katherine Sebov easily defeated local favorite Priscilla Hon 6-2, 6-2 in the qualifying draw. The Ontario, 191e world player, could get her ticket to the main draw next night when she faces the 20e seeded in the qualifying table, Switzerland’s Simona Waltert.
Fellow countrywoman Carol Zhao was not so lucky. The Ontarian bent the spine 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (2) in front of the French Clara Burel, 17e seeded in qualifying.
On the men’s side, Quebecer Alexis Galarneau lost to Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas 6-7 (8), 6-3, 6-4.
