EMMA RADUCANU was again handed a tough path at a grand slam with world number one Aryna Sabalenka looming at the Australian Open.

The British number one is seeded 28th at Melbourne Park after a 2025 season that was largely encouraging but saw her beaten by the WTA’s big guns at the slams.

She was very competitive in a third-round loss to Sabalenka at Wimbledon but was well beaten twice by Iga Swiatek and once by Elena Rybakina as she failed to progress beyond the last 32 at any of the four majors.

That round once again appears a huge hurdle after the draw put her in line to clash with two-time Melbourne champion Sabalenka.

First Raducanu must negotiate an opener against low-ranked Thai player Mananchaya Sawangkaew, with a second-round meeting in store against either Anastasia Potapova or Suzan Lamens.

Katie Boulter, who was a last-minute entry into the main draw, has a very tough opener against in-form 10th seed Belinda Bencic, while Sonay Kartal faces 31st seed Anna Kalinskaya and Francesca Jones will play a qualifier.

Top seed Sabalenka opens her campaign against French wild card Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah, with second seed Swiatek starting against a qualifier but facing a potential fourth-round meeting against Naomi Osaka.

Third seed Coco Gauff, meanwhile, could meet 45-year-old Venus Williams in round two.