MELBOURNE, Australia — Greater than six years after they first met in a significant, Coco Gauff and Venus Williams may meet within the second spherical of the Australian Open.
Gauff was 15 when she made her Grand Slam debut within the first spherical of Wimbledon in 2019, defeating seven-time main champion Venus Williams.
She is presently the No. 3 seed and has received two main championships. Williams, 45, is getting into the Australian Open as a wild card, making her first look in 5 years.
Williams is ready to turn out to be the oldest feminine participant to play in the principle draw of the Australian Open, overtaking the file held by Japan’s Kimiko Date, 44, who misplaced within the first spherical at Melbourne Park in 2015.
The primary main draw of the 12 months was held at Melbourne Park on Thursday. The match begins on Sunday.
Gauff’s opening match shall be in opposition to Kamila Rahimova, who’s ranked 91st. Williams, ranked 576th and who made her Australian Open debut in 1998 and has reached the ultimate twice, will play Olga Danilovic, ranked 68th, in her opening match.
They’re tied in the identical half as top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, who received back-to-back Australian Open titles regardless of dropping to Madison Keys in final 12 months’s ultimate.
Sabalenka may face 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu within the third spherical.
Defending champion Keys was tied in the identical quarter with sixth-place Jessica Pegula and fourth-place Amanda Anisimova. Iga Swiatek, who ranks second within the rankings, is within the backside quarter of this draw and will face Naomi Osaka within the fourth spherical.
Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic landed in the identical half of the draw, organising a possible semi-final between the defending champion and 24-time main champion.
Prime-ranked Carlos Alcaraz is on the opposite facet of the tie between Sinner and Djokovic.
