Djokovic to begin bid for 25th Grand Slam crown in Brisbane as Sabalenka leads women’s entry list
- 6 hours ago
Novak Djokovic will begin his 2025 season and bid for an 11th Australian Open title at the Brisbane International, it was announced on Wednesday, with the Serbian superstar now coached by Andy Murray.
The 37-year-old is targeting a record 25th Grand Slam crown after failing to add to the total during a frustrating 2024, although he did win Olympic singles gold in Paris.
The ATP-WTA event runs Dec.29-Jan.5, with the Australian Open to begin on Jan.12.
“I’m excited to be kicking off my Australian swing at the Brisbane International and to compete again at Pat Rafter Arena,” said Djokovic.
“I am looking forward to experiencing the incredible support from the Australian fans and making this tournament one to remember.”
Should he win, it would be his 100th career title, just the third man in the Open era behind Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) to achieve the feat.
Djokovic was beaten in the Australian Open semi-finals this year by eventual champion Jannik Sinner with his failure to lift another major leaving him tied with Margaret Court on a record 24 Grand Slam singles crowns.
Djokovic, the 10-time Australian Open champion and holder of 99 career titles, will play the Brisbane International for the first time since 2009.
In a bid to surpass her in Melbourne, he has teamed up with long-time rival and the now-retired Murray.
The Brisbane tournament will also mark the return to competitive tennis of Australian Nick Kyrgios, who has played just one ATP Tour singles match in two years after knee, foot and wrist injuries.
Other men’s players starting their year in Brisbane include Grigor Dimitrov, Holger Rune, Frances Tiafoe and Matteo Berrettini.
Sabalenka leads stellar cast: Aryna Sabalenka is one of four Top 10 players on the initial entry list for WTA 500 event.
Reigning Australian Open and US Open champion Sabalenka was the runner-up in Brisbane to Elena Rybakina in 2024. Next year, she will be joined by Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro and Daria Kasatkina.
Two further Grand Slam champions are also on the initial main-draw list: two-time Australian Open titlist Victoria Azarenka and former Roland Garros winner Jelena Ostapenko. Azarenka, who lifted the Brisbane trophy in 2009 and 2016, is the only former champion who has entered the 2025 edition.
Three-time major finalist Ons Jabeur is also due to return to action in Brisbane, having not competed due to injury since the US Open. Other notable entrants include 17-year-old Roland Garros semifinalist Mirra Andreeva, four-time Hologic WTA Tour champion Diana Shnaider, 2024 Australian Open semi-finalist Dayana Yastremska, and 2024 Australian Open quarterfinalists Linda Noskova, Marta Kostyuk and Anna Kalinskaya.
The last direct acceptance to the 48-player draw is No.80-ranked Arantxa Rus.
Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz will have an additional coach with him when the 2025 season begins.
The four-time Grand Slam champion has hired Samuel Lopez to work alongside Juan Carlos Ferrero, who has coached the Spaniard since he was 15 years old.
Lopez has coached Ferrero, among other players. Alcaraz, 21, believes the pairing can help push him back to the top of the rankings.
“I think Samuel, for me, is one of the best coaches that we have on tour,” Alcaraz said Tuesday, the day before a scheduled exhibition match against Ben Shelton at Madison Square Garden.
“They trust each other 100 percent and being able to travel with both, for me, it’s going to be great. I think I’m going to grow as a player thanks to them. I think we are going to work pretty hard and pretty good for the next season and the next years. Hopefully we are going to make good results together.”
Agencies
