The WTA top seed now faces Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in round two, with ATP top seed Sinner starting his Australian Open title defence against ​​Nicolas Jarry.

Sabalenka has backed Sinner for Australian Open success, with the Italian having won his first Grand Slam title this time last year.

He leads the way for seedings this time around, followed by Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz as second and third seeds respectively.

Martina Navratilova and Lindsay Davenport name Alexander Zverev as best player yet to win a Grand Slam

It was the Italian and the Spaniard who dominated the Grand Slams in 2024, each winning on two occasions as Zverev fell short once more.

And it is the German who both Martina Navratilova and Lindsay Davenport agree is the best current men’s player that is yet to win a major.

READ MORE: Why the Australian Open crowd made Serena Williams feel ‘weird’ during her final against Lindsay Davenport in 2005

“We’re talking current players, it’s 100% Zverev,” Davenport said on Tennis Channel. “If you look at the resume, if you look at the situations he’s been in, career-high rankings, how he plays the game, it’s Zverev.

“That 2020 men’s US Open final is one to really look at. Zverev at one point was serving second serves in the 60s, when it got really close in the fifth set it meant so much to him, but for whatever reason he just can’t come through in a major, or he hasn’t yet.”

And asked if there is an argument for any other player, Navratilova replied: “No, I don’t think so. I’m on Zverev’s side as well here.

“He came within one game of winning at the US Open, and was two sets to one up at Roland Garros. He’s been the best player two out of three, which is funny because usually three out of five, the guy is relaxed a little because they’ve got more leeway, right?

“But he tightens up more in the three-out-of-five format. Maybe it’s just because it’s a major, so we’ll see if he can overcome it.

“But I’ve seen him improving so many aspects of his game, particularly moving forward. And he’s got softer hands now at the net. He’s got all the goods, now it’s more of a mental breakthrough that he needs, rather than a tennis breakthrough.”

Jon Wertheim can’t believe Alexander Zverev hasn’t won a Grand Slam

Zverev continues his search for an elusive Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, where he is already into the second round.

The ATP number two beat Frenchman Lucas Pouille 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in round one to secure a second round meeting with Pedro Martinez.

READ MORE: Alexander Zverev says whether he believes he can catch Jannik Sinner and become world number one in 2025

Currently occupying a career-high ranking of second, Zverev has come closest to Grand Slam success at the 2020 US Open and 2024 French Open.

The 23-time ATP champion lost those finals to Dominic Thiem and Carlos Alcaraz respectively, but has twice emerged victorious at the ATP Finals and is also an Olympic gold medal winner.

Jon Wertheim couldn’t help but agree with legendary figures Navratilova and Davenport regarding the 27-year-old, saying: “Someone who will go nameless, who’s named Andy Roddick, will make a case that Zverev is the all-time best player never to have won a major.

“Never gotten to number one, but he’s been to finals, he’s had this long, sustained career at the very, very top of the sport.

“It’s 23 or 24 titles, that’s a big number with no major. Keep in mind, all this is ultimately a compliment. People think your achievements make you worthy of winning a major. I don’t want to make this seem like we’re digging on the guy, but I think Zverev is top.

“Taylor Fritz, interesting thought. It’s a different kind of vibe though, right? With Taylor Fritz it’s, ‘You’re playing really well and this could be your time’.

“Zverev I think is a little bit more ‘Boy, you’ve come so close, it’s kind of this accumulated disappointment, are you going to break through’, a little different.”

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