Djokovic faces Chardy, Kenin meets Inglis at Australian Open

Sofia Kenin kisses the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after defeating Spain's Garbine Muguruza to win the 2020 Australian Open. (AP)
Sofia Kenin kisses the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after defeating Spain's Garbine Muguruza to win the 2020 Australian Open. (AP)
TT
20

Djokovic faces Chardy, Kenin meets Inglis at Australian Open

Sofia Kenin kisses the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after defeating Spain's Garbine Muguruza to win the 2020 Australian Open. (AP)
Sofia Kenin kisses the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after defeating Spain's Garbine Muguruza to win the 2020 Australian Open. (AP)

Novak Djokovic will begin his Australian Open title defense against Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, while reigning women’s champion Sofia Kenin meets wild card Maddison Inglis, following the draw for the year’s first Grand Slam on Friday.

World number one Djokovic captured a record-extending eighth title at Melbourne Park last year by beating Dominic Thiem, who is seeded third and will face Kazakh Mikhail Kukushkin in the first round.

Rafa Nadal, seeking a first title at the major since 2009, will meet Serbia’s Laslo Djere in his opener.

The Spaniard is level with Roger Federer on 20 Grand Slam titles and looking to overtake the Swiss champion, who is not playing this year following knee surgery.

Top-ranked Ash Barty resumes her quest to become the first homegrown singles winner at the Australian Open since 1978 when the 24-year-old takes on Danka Kovinic.

American Serena Williams, bidding to win a record-equaling 24th major, will meet Laura Siegemund in the opening round.

Naomi Osaka, the 2019 champion, has a series of potentially tough matches starting with a clash against former quarter-finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

The Japanese player could face Caroline Garcia and Ons Jabeur in her next two rounds before a likely match-up with either Garbine Muguruza or Angelique Kerber in the fourth round.

Second seed Simona Halep of Romania, a beaten finalist at Melbourne Park three years ago, will play wild card Lizette Cabrera while fifth-seeded Ukrainian Elina Svitolina faces Marie Bouzkova.

ATP Finals champion Daniil Medvedev, who lost in the fourth round in the previous two years, meets Canada’s Vasek Pospisil, while young guns Jannik Sinner and Denis Shapovalov are set to face off in what promises to be a blockbuster opener.

Fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas has a tricky test against French veteran Gilles Simon while Alexander Zverev and Andrey Rublev have relatively easier first rounds against Marcos Giron and Yannick Hanfmann, respectively.

Iga Swiatek, who made her breakthrough last year by winning the French Open title, takes on Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands while Venus Williams plays Kirsten Flipkens.



Guardiola Hears Boos at Oasis Concert in Manchester

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts ahead of the Club World Cup Group G soccer match between Manchester City and Al Ain in Atlanta, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts ahead of the Club World Cup Group G soccer match between Manchester City and Al Ain in Atlanta, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
TT
20

Guardiola Hears Boos at Oasis Concert in Manchester

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts ahead of the Club World Cup Group G soccer match between Manchester City and Al Ain in Atlanta, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts ahead of the Club World Cup Group G soccer match between Manchester City and Al Ain in Atlanta, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Some Oasis fans weren't quite “mad fer it” when the band dedicated a song to Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola at a homecoming concert.

A smattering of boos followed Liam Gallagher dedicating “D'You Know What I Mean?” to “the greatest manager of all time, the one and only Pep Guardiola" — who was in attendance, The AP news reported.

It occurred Friday night at Heaton Park during the band's first concert in Manchester in 16 years as part of its reunion tour.

Noel Gallagher then asked: “Who you booing?”

The brothers, who grew up in Manchester and are longtime City fans, have attended many games over the years as Guardiola has guided the club to six Premier League titles — among an array of other trophies.

Guardiola, who received some respectful applause as well, didn't seem to mind the razzing — likely from crosstown Man United fans at the show — and joined the rest of the 70,000-plus fans in singing “Don't Look Back in Anger.”