Championships can’t be won today, but it’s an all-important day for the world’s best tennis players as they reveal how treacherous their path to glory is.

The draw takes place at 1pm AEDT from Melbourne Park, and we’ll bring you all the news, match-ups and what it means for Australia’s main hopefuls as soon as it happens.

1.20PM: AUSSIE WOMEN HIT HARD AT DRAW

It has been a tough old day for the Australian women.

Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic will face Croatia’s Petra Martic in her opening match, but elsewhere it was carnage.

Taylah Preston and Kim Birrell have landed seeded players Elina Svitolina and Jelena Ostapenko, while Oliva Gadecki gets the dangerous floater Sloane Stephens.

1.10PM: OSAKA LANDS BLOCKBUSTER FIRST-ROUND

Naomi Osaka makes her return to Australia with a blockbuster first-round match against 16th seed Caroline Garcia.

Another highlight of the first-round matches will by Angelique Kerber and the USA’s Danielle Collins.

The winner there would likely face Swiatek – should she get past Kenin

“It’s stacked with either Australian Open champions or finalists,” says former Australian star Casey Dellacqua.

“It’s a mouthwatering section in terms of past champions and women’s who have had great success in Australia.”

Here’s a look at how the quarter-finals could look like if results are as expected.

1.05PM: SWIATEK’S HORROR FIRST ROUND DRAW

That is an absolute nightmare draw for the women’s favourite, Iga Swiatek, who draws 2020 champion Sofia Kenin as her first-round match.

Kenin loomed as one of the most dangerous floaters on the women’s side of the draw along with fellow former champion Naomi Osaka and the likes of Sloane Stephens and Caroline Wozniacki.

But Kenin, the former World No.4, is not a name you want to see first up – despite her unimpressive recent results.

12PM: INJURY CURSE HAMPERS HISTORY-CHASING NOVAK

Novak Djokovic is once again red-hot favourite at the Australian Open as he chases an unprecedented 25th grand slam title, but a wrist problem and the emergence of Carlos Alcaraz puts his all-conquering reign under threat.

The 36-year-old from Serbia defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in last year’s final for a record-extending 10th Melbourne crown then added the French and US Open titles to his collection in 2023.

But he lost a pulsating Wimbledon final to Alcaraz, who is a different player to the one that last graced the Australian hard courts as an 18-year-old ranked outside the top 30.

THE FULL DRAW AND BRACKETS WILL BE REVEALED AT 1PM

The 20-year-old missed last year’s event with a hamstring injury and arrives this time as a two-time major champion, world No.2 – behind Djokovic – and the brightest young star in tennis.Rafael Nadal, Djokovic’s long-time rival, on Sunday pulled out of the Australian Open with a muscle tear in a fresh blow to the veteran’s hopes of returning to the top of the sport.

Nadal’s fellow Spaniard Alcaraz opted to skip a warm-up tournament for the opening grand slam of the year, making his 2024 form a mystery.

Djokovic will begin his defence with an injury cloud hanging over him, needing treatment on his right wrist through both matches of the United Cup – including a loss to Australia’s Alex de Minaur.

Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek is in scintillating form as she seeks a maiden Australian Open crown, but she could face a stiff test from defending champion Aryna Sabalenka while two-time winner Naomi Osaka is making her comeback.

World number one Swiatek has won 17 of her 18 matches since she lost in the fourth round of her US Open title defence, going on to win the China Open and the WTA Finals.

The Pole has started the new season with a flourish, winning all five of her singles at the United Cup last week.

Originally published as Australian Open 2024 draw: live coverage, match-ups, seedings, full schedule men’s and women’s