AO2022: the top storylines in the men's and women's draws

The Australian Open 2022 draw was revealed on Thursday, making way for some exciting match-ups on both the men's and women's sides.

Here's a look at some of the main talking points that stand out in the draw.

Djokovic and Nadal could meet in the semis

Two players have an opportunity to clinch a men’s all-time record-breaking 21st Grand Slam at the Australian Open this month and both of them have landed in the same half of the draw.

Top seed and defending champion Novak Djokovic and 2009 winner Rafael Nadal could be on collision course for a semi-final showdown at Melbourne Park but they must first contend with some serious threats in their respective quarters, particularly Nadal.

>> FULL MEN'S SINGLES DRAW

Djokovic, who begins his quest for a record-extending 10th Australian Open crown against fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic, shares a section of the draw with recent Adelaide champion Gaël Monfils and Indian Wells champion Cameron Norrie, and could take on the likes of rising teen Carlos Alcaraz or familiar foe, the No.7 seed, Matteo Berrettini in the quarter-finals.

Nadal, who is seeded No.6 this upcoming fortnight and opens against American Marcos Giron, is drawn to potentially face reigning ATP Finals champion and No.3 seed Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals and may need to overcome the likes of Karen Khachanov, Aslan Karatsev or Hubert Hurkacz along the way.

Tough draw for defending champ Osaka

If Naomi Osaka plans on clinching a third Australian Open title, and a fifth major overall, the Japanese No.13 seed will have to do it the hard way.  

The 24-year-old commences her campaign Down Under against talented Colombian Camila Osorio and could face Olympic gold medallist Belinda Bencic in the third round. Should she successfully navigate that section, Osaka could get a mouth-watering showdown with world No.1 and home favourite Ashleigh Barty in the last 16 before possible quarter-final dates with No.5 seed Maria Sakkari or No.9 seed Ons Jabeur.

>> FULL WOMEN'S SINGLES DRAW

Reigning Roland-Garros champion Barbora Krejcikova, seeded No.4 in Melbourne, and Indian Wells champion Paula Badosa are also in Osaka’s half of the draw and could meet her in the semi-finals.

Two-time major winner Barty kicks off proceedings at Melbourne Park against a qualifier and the first seed she could face is Italian power-hitter Camila Giorgi in round three.

Loaded men’s third quarter

Eighth-seeded Casper Ruud and fourth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas bookend a stacked third quarter of the men’s draw, which also includes Italian No.11 seed Jannik Sinner, five-time runner-up Andy Murray, former semi-finalist Grigor Dimitrov, American duo Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe as well as 15th-seeded Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut.

Tsitsipas, who underwent elbow surgery end of last season, has a tricky opener against Sweden’s Mikael Ymer and could square off against Dimitrov in the third round.

Opportunity for Medvedev

No.2 seed Daniil Medvedev will be looking to make it back-to-back Grand Slam triumphs after clinching his first major at the US Open last September.

The Russian 2021 runner-up, who faces Switzerland’s Henri Laaksonen in the first round, has a manageable draw that could see him clash with his compatriot and No.5 seed Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals for the second consecutive year at the Australian Open.

Potential threats in Medvedev’s path include Nick Kyrgios (possible second round opponent), and French No.29 seed Ugo Humbert (third round). Canadian No.9 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime is also a potential quarter-final rival for Medvedev.

Women’s Grand Slam champions dominate bottom half

The bottom half of the women’s draw is stacked with Grand Slam champions like Simona Halep, Iga Swiatek, Petra Kvitova, Garbiñe Muguruza, Angelique Kerber, Sam Stosur, Emma Raducanu and Sloane Stephens.

Halep, the No.14 seed, enjoyed a strong start to her 2022 season by capturing the Melbourne 1 WTA title and shares a quarter with Muguruza and in-form No.6 seed Anett Kontaveit.

Popcorn first rounds

Men’s

Cameron Norrie (GBR, 12) v Sebastian Korda (USA)

Matteo Berrettini (ITA, 7) v Brandon Nakashima (USA)

Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) v Alex de Minaur (AUS, 32)

Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO, 21) v Andy Murray

Mikael Ymer (SWE) v Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE, 4)

Ugo Humbert (FRA, 29) v Richard Gasquet (FRA)

Women’s

Emma Raducanu (GBR, 17) v Sloane Stephens (USA)

Naomi Osaka (JPN, 13) v Camila Osorio (COL)

Barbora Krejcikova (CZE, 4) v Andrea Petkovic (GER)

Sofia Kenin (USA, 11) v Madison Keys (USA)

Paula Badosa (ESP, 8) v Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS)