The 2023 Australian Open men's draw is officially set. Defending champion Rafael Nadal is slated to face British newcomer Jack Draper in his first match. The bracket also places 2022 finalist Daniil Medvedev in the same section. Novak Djokovic, aiming for a record tenth title, might square off against Nick Kyrgios in the quarter-finals. Notably, world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz is out of the competition due to injury. Nadal, entering as the top seed, will start his defense on January 16 at Melbourne Park against Draper, who currently ranks 40th in the world.
The 2023 Australian Open men’s draw is done and defending champion Rafael Nadal will take on rising star Jack Draper of Great Britain in the opening round. The 2022 Australian Open runner-up Daniil Medvedev of Russia is also placed in the same quarter. The Serbian star Novak Djokovic, who is bidding for a tenth Australian Open title, could meet Australia’s Nick Kyrgios in the last eight. World no.1 Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the tournament due to injury. Nadal, the top seed for the season-opening Grand Slam will open his title defense against world no.40 Draper at Melbourne Park on January 16.
Nadal, currently ranked second, probably isn't thrilled to be paired with the athletic 21-year-old Brit. While the Spaniard is still expected to win, this opening match could be surprisingly difficult given that Nadal hasn't seen much competitive action lately. To avoid an upset by the former Next Gen ATP Finals player, Nadal must be fully focused from the very first point.
Jack Draper is demonstrating that he has the game and the nerves to potentially beat Nadal in their first meeting. With two top-10 victories already under his belt, Draper is heading into the Adelaide International 2 semi-finals this Friday. In contrast, the 36-year-old Nadal has looked shaky during the United Cup, including a loss to Draper's fellow countryman, Cameron Norrie.
Tim Henman, once the top player in Britain, believes Draper has exactly what it takes to defeat Nadal. Henman points out that Nadal looks somewhat vulnerable right now, citing his poor run of form and two consecutive losses at the United Cup. According to Henman, Draper's current strong form in Adelaide is a result of an incredibly disciplined training regime.
Henman suggests that Draper's best chance of winning is right now, at the start of the tournament, before Nadal has the chance to find his peak form and momentum. From Henman's perspective, the young Brit is in a perfect position: he has nothing to lose and everything to gain from this match.
Henman noted that Draper's game is built on aggressive play and a powerful serve; if his opponent can't match that intensity, Draper completely dominates the match. Even if Nadal manages to get past Draper, the road won't get any easier, as he'll likely face either Mackenzie McDonald or Brandon Nakashima in the second round.