When is the Australian Open draw and how to watch live in UK, USA or Australia as Alcaraz, Sinner, Sabalenka and Swiatek set to learn their fate

The Australian Open is fast approaching, with the best tennis players on the ATP and WTA set to lock horns for one of the biggest titles in tennis. All 128 players from both events will be closely watching the draw, which will be taking place on January 15.

The two players who will have firm attention around are the reigning champions Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys. While Sinner was a stone-cold favourite to defend his title Down Under, the American took everyone by surprise with an incredible run which culminated with her lifting a maiden Grand Slam title.

She goes into this year's event not on the best of form, and will be desperately hoping to find the tennis she produced last year with a whole bunch of ranking points firmly on the line.

The winner from the WTA event could come from anywhere. The favourite will be world number one Aryna Sabalenka, who is targeting a fourth consecutive final in Melbourne. She failed to make it three from three last year, with this fuelling her for a triumphant run at Melbourne Park.

World number two Iga Swiatek made it to the semi-finals last year before losing out to Keys. She is looking for the final piece of the puzzle to complete the career Grand Slam, but will have to reverse prior form in Australia. Similar is the likes of Coco Gauff and Amanda Anisimova, who have showed their best tennis away from Oceania. Former finalist Elena Rybakina is also a firm contender after an incredible display in the WTA Finals a few months ago.

For the men, it seems like there are just two realistic scenarios: Sinner to defend his title or Carlos Alcaraz complete the career Grand Slam. Similar to Swiatek, Alcaraz has never played his best stuff in Australia, making just two quarter-finals in his prior appearances. He seems like the only player who could stop Sinner from making it a hat-trick of Australian Open titles.

The chasing pack will offer a different argument. Especially last year's defeated finalist Alexander Zverev who, a bit like Keys, is under a lot of pressure to defend the ranking points or a sharp drop could occur from his comfortable world number three slot. 10-time champion Novak Djokovic last beat one of the top two in last year's edition, and may need to repeat this if he wants to win an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam.

Home favourite Alex de Minaur will look for a passageway past the quarter-finals for the first time with the inform Felix Auger-Aliassime looking to keep up his positive string of results on a surface he is fond of. American duo Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz will also be in the hunt as will three-time finalist Daniil Medvedev, who is looking back to his best.

All 128 players on the ATP Tour and all 128 players on the WTA Tour will soon learn their fate. It is not just their first match, but their possible pathway throughout the entire tournament.

The draw will take place on Thursday, 15 January 14:30 local time, 3:30 BST, 4:30 CET and 10:30 EST. It will be broadcasted live on the Australian Open website, their YouTube channel and Facebook page worldwide.