All nine Australian tennis players competing at the Paris 2024 Olympics learnt their first round opponents on Thursday as the official draws were conducted in the French capital.
A majority of the Australian players are set to face formidable challenges in their respective first round matches at Paris 2024. Tennis competitions at the upcoming Summer Games will be played at the iconic Roland Garros clay courts, starting from Saturday.
Australia’s top men’s singles tennis player Alex de Minaur, seeded fifth, will face Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff (world No. 34) in the opening round. The Australian tennis player leads Struff 4-2 in the head-to-head but was pushed to four sets by the German at the French Open last month.
Alex de Minaur, who will make his Olympic debut after missing out on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to COVID-19, could face French Open and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals if both progress to that stage.
Rinky Hijikata has been drawn against the fourth seed Daniil Medvedev while Alexei Popyrin will face Chile’s Nicolas Jarry, seeded 16th, in his men’s singles opener.
Matthew Ebden was drafted in late as a replacement in the singles draw in place of injured Danish star Holger Rune. However, Ebden will be up against top seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia in his opener.
An upset win could line him up against Rafael Nadal in the second round.
In the mixed doubles, Ebden (world No. 3 in men’s doubles) and Ellen Perez (10th in the women’s doubles) are seeded second and will take on Spain’s Sara Sorribes and Marcel Granollers in their opener.
Australia’s challenge in women’s singles will be shouldered by Ajla Tomljanovic, who will face USA’s second seed Coco Gauff up front.
John Peers, who won the mixed doubles bronze with now-retired Ashleigh Barty at Tokyo 2020, and Ebden, will take on Lebanon’s Benjamin Hassan and Hady Habib in the first round of the men’s doubles.
Alexei Popyrin and Alex de Minaur will be the second Australian tennis pair in the men’s doubles and will have their task cut out against fourth seeds Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram of the United States.
Ellen Perez and Daria Saville take on top-seeded American combination Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula in the women’s doubles. Meanwhile, Olivia Gadecki and Ajla Tomljanovic will face Neutral athletes Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider.
Tennis made its Olympic debut at Athens 1896. The Australian tennis players have won a total of six Olympic medals – one gold, one silver and four bronze – to date.
Paris 2024 Olympics: Draws for Australian tennis players
Men’s singles first round
- Alex de Minaur vs Jan-Lennard Struff (Germany)
- Rinky Hijikata vs Daniil Medvedev (Individual Neutral Athlete)
- Alexei Popyrin vs Nicolas Jarry (Chile)
- Matthew Ebden vs Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
Women’s singles first round
- Ajla Tomljanovic vs Coco Gauff (USA)
Men’s doubles first round
- John Peers/Ebden vs Benjamin Hassan/Hady Habib (Lebanon)
- Alexei Popyrin/Alex de Minaur vs Austin Krajicek/Rajeev Ram (USA)
Women’s doubles first round
- Ellen Perez/Daria Saville vs Coco Gauff/Jessica Pegula (USA)
- Olivia Gadecki/Ajla Tomljanovic vs Mirra Andreeva/Diana Shnaider (Individual Neutral Athlete)
Mixed doubles
- Matthew Ebden/Ellen Perez vs Sara Sorribes/Marcel Granollers (Spain)