The first Grand Slam of the year gets under way at Melbourne Park as a 15-day event for the second year running, aimed at cutting down on late-night finishes.
Italian world number one Sinner is hot favourite after a breakthrough 2024 built on the back of his come-from-behind victory over Daniil Medvedev in last year’s final.
It was his maiden Slam crown and he went on to add the US Open, with his overwhelming dominance illustrated by being more than 4,000 ranking points clear of world number two Alexander Zverev.
He has played Chile’s Jarry twice before, winning their last clash in Beijing in September. But he needed to rally from a set down.
“Let’s see what I can do this year,” said the 23-year-old
“It’s a question that I think none of us can answer. But it’s good to be back here, and we’ll see what the tournament is going to say.”
He begins his defence under a cloud after twice testing positive for traces of the steroid clostebol in March.
While exonerated by the International Tennis Integrity Agency, the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed and his case which will be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on April 16-17.
Should he get past Jarry, the top seed could meet Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas or Australian Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals.
Medvedev — who has made three of the last four Australian Open finals — is a potential semi-final opponent with the Russian opening his account against Thai wildcard Kasidit Samrej.
Carlos Alcaraz and 10-time champion Novak Djokovic are on the other side of the draw, with the heavyweight duo on a last-eight collision course.
Spain’s Alcaraz is bidding to complete a career Grand Slam of all four majors aged just 21 and begins against in-form Kazakh Alexander Shevchenko.
The four-time major winner Alcaraz has never gone past the quarter-finals in Melbourne.
“Main thing for me is Grand Slams, try to win as many Grand Slams as I can. That’s my main goal,” he said.
Despite being 37 and coming off a mediocre season by his standards, few will be betting against Djokovic on the blue hardcourts where he has tasted his biggest successes.
Gunning for an 11th title, he would surpass Margaret Court as the outright Slam leader on 25 should he win, with former rival Andy Murray now coaching him.
History bid
He meets American teenager Nishesh Basavareddy first.