Jannik Sinner is entering the 2025 season in a very strong position.
He is on top of the world after achieving his best ever campaign in 2024, which yielded two Grand Slams and he also became number one in the world.
The 23-year-old lost just six matches across the year and he did not lose a match in straight sets across the season. The only other player to achieve that feat was Roger Federer in 2005.
Now Sinner has returned to the tournament where his success began in 2024, the Australian Open, where he is looking to defend his title.
But ahead of finding out who his first opponent will be, The Tennis Gazette has suggested three places the Italian would prefer to see much later in the tournament, or not at all.
Who will Jannik Sinner not want to face in the first round of the Australian Open?
Nick Kyrgios
This would be an absolute blockbuster first round encounter at the Australian Open should it take place.
Nick Kyrgios has made no secret of his feelings towards Sinner since he tested positive for anabolic steroid clostebol.
Sinner was allowed to continue playing while the investigation was conducted, the ITIA later cleared of intentionally taking the banned substance.
But Kyrgios believes Sinner should have been suspended and has made some strong comments about this on multiple occasions online.
Kyrgios has also expressed his desire to play Sinner at the Australian Open, and he could just get his wish.
Kyrgios’ electric brand of tennis in addition to a raucous home crowd would cause Sinner some problems, and this would not be an ideal start to his title defence.
Reilly Opelka
Opelka has started 2025 in an excellent fashion after beating Novak Djokovic on the way to reaching the Brisbane International final.
As solid as Sinner’s return of serve is, the American’s thunderous serve will be a significant hurdle to overcome, as Djokovic, who many regard as the best returner of all time, found out.
The 27-year-old is currently fighting to be fit for the Australian Open, but his firepower will give few chances to find rhythm in a potential first round clash at Melbourne Park.
This could be their second meeting, after Sinner claimed their only previous contest at the 2021 Vienna Open in straight sets.
Joao Fonseca
Joao Fonseca is beginning to make an impression on the ATP Tour and he would be a dangerous first round opponent for Sinner.
The teenager is currently on a 12-match wins streak, dating back to his ATP Next Gen Finals victory in December. He has since won a challenger in Canberra and is trying to come through the qualifiers to earn a spot in the main draw of the Australian Open.
Should he successfully qualify, Fonseca would relish the chance to face the defending champion in the opening round, and he would have nothing to lose.
All the pressure would be on Sinner to deliver a young and very talented player who is riding a wave of momentum. Sinner would have to play well to defeat Fonseca, who has not tasted defeat since November.
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