Defending champion Jannik Sinner and 10-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic have landed in opposite sides of the draw for the season’s first major, ruling out a replay of last year’s semifinal

Novak Djokovic is targeting an 11th Australian Open title and record 25th Grand Slam crown but faces an uphill battle against Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

Top seed Jannik Sinner will begin his Australian Open title defence against Nicolas Jarry while women's champion Aryna Sabalenka takes on Sloane Stephens after the draw for the year's first Grand Slam was made at Melbourne Park on Thursday.

The blazing fire of the golden era of men's tennis has been reduced to dying embers without Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal but Novak Djokovic can send one last flame shooting into the Melbourne sky at this year's Australian Open.

Djokovic, like Court, won his first Slam at the Australian Open and he can end the debate definitively on his 22nd visit to Melbourne as a professional. Aside from the reliable band of supporters from the local Serbian community, the veteran has rarely been the most popular player at Melbourne Park but he has always been among the best.

Novak Djokovic and new coach Andy Murray have been seen practising together for the first time ahead of the start of the Australian Open on Sunday.