Unlike the other majors, the Australian Open only allows media to watch the first 15 minutes of the practice sessions taking place in the arenas so I only caught Nadal and Murray hitting serves before they started playing a practice set.
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Murray carries the baggage of losing four Melbourne finals – three of them to Djokovic – but is continuing his dogged pursuit of a breakthrough.
Murray is bidding to clinch a third grand slam title of his career and his first in Melbourne.
Murray has already lost three times to the Serb in Australian Open finals, including previous year, but Gilbert, who coached the Briton for 16 months from 2006, believes the baby factor will be a help not a hindrance.
She added: “I know what I need to do on and off the court to win big tournaments”. Williams looked on course for a calendar-year Grand Slam last year, until a cruel upset in the US Open semi-finals by Italian Roberta Vinci abruptly ended her season.
Simona Halep, Garbine Muguruza, Agnieszka Radwanska, Maria Sharapova, Petra Kvitova, Angelique Kerber and Venus Williams make up the women’s eight along with Williams.
Second seed Andy Murray takes on emerging German Alexander Zverev, with David Ferrer in the Brit’s quarter.
Kei Nishikori, who faces Philipp Kohlschreiber in the first round, is in Djokovic’s quarter.
Williams will open against Camila Giorgi of Italy, who finished 2015 at No. 34 and was the highest-ranked player who was not seeded at Melbourne Park, on Monday. “I feel strong and I am enjoying the game again” said Nadal in Sydney earlier in the week while playing at the Fast 4 Tennis exhibition.
Defending champion Serena Williams is the strong favourite to retain her title.
Tomic described the form of the Serbian world No. 1 as a “joke”, saying he was mystified as to how anyone was going to match it with him at the Australian Open.
“But the biggest change in the last two years, the reason why I think he’s become nearly invincible, is how much more controlled offence he’s played”. And I think I will be.
“I just think when things outside of tennis in your personal life start to change a little bit, it depends on the person really because it can be a great thing”, said Evert, also a pundit for ESPN.
Aljaz Bedene, the British No2, has a first-round meeting with world No32 Steve Johnson, while British No3 Kyle Edmund, who is competing in a Grand Slam event by dint of his world ranking for the first time, faces world No81, Damir Dzumhur.
“I really want to spend more time with my wife”. “Between two top guys… you rarely see blowouts”, Federer said. The 2014 champion has reached semifinals in three of his last four Grand Slam semifinals and is the favorite to emerge from his section of the bracket.
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Last week he beat Federer in the Brisbane final, and after his 2015 was beset by injuries, the No. 13 seed is due to play Federer’s countryman, Wawrinka, in the fourth round should their seeds hold.
