Reigning champion Novak Djokovic has been placed in the same half of the draw as 17-times Grand Slam victor Roger Federer.
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The Australian Open begins in Melbourne on Monday, Jan. 18.
The Australian Open draw was conducted in Melbourne today setting up several fascinating opening-round clashes that pop off the page. Djokovic, however, completely dominated this tournament, thereby sending a message that, perhaps, the Novak Djokovic of 2016 is here to stay for this season. For the first time in his career, Djokovic now has a winning record against Nadal in their rivalry, 24-23.
The dogged David Ferrer has reached the Australian Open quarterfinals in four of the last five years, but he’s working out the kinks playing with a Babolat Pure Drive racquet after spending most of his career wielding an extended Prince frame.
Wawrinka, who upset Djokovic in last year’s French Open final for his second major win, opens against Russia’s Dmitry Tursunov, while Nadal meets Spanish compatriot Fernando Verdasco.
1 Chris Evert thinks Rafael Nadal can not defeat Novak Djokovic regardless of the tennis court surface following the Spaniard’s lopsided loss against the Serb at the Qatar Open in Doha earlier this month.
It was only when told they had to hand back the trophies that Djokovic replied, half-jokingly, “What do you mean they’re not ours?” Always one to watch as she loves Melbourne and its restaurants and night life, none of which appears to affect her play here as in the past five years, she’s always advanced past the first week here….
With regard to Djokovic, the Serb will face Hyeon Chung and then probably Ivan Dodig in the first two rounds.
In the women’s bracket, Williams is the top seed and Simona Halep is No. 2.
“It’s a little bit more risky than we think, the draw”, he said.
“Everything is actually really well”.
She’d better be, after the draw created a challenging path to another title.
Defending champion Serena Williams will face Camila Giorgi in the first round as she looks for her seventh Australian Open crown, while Maria Sharapova, who opens against Nao Hibino, was drawn in Williams’ quarter.
She could also meet former world number one Caroline Wozniacki in the fourth round before a possible showdown with Sharapova, who has failed to beat Williams since 2004.
Sharapova, the 2008 champion, said her restricted preparation was purely precautionary. “You want to do what you can to be healthy and be a part of the Grand Slam so sometimes that’s a decision you have to make”.
Victory at Flushing Meadows would have moved her into a tie with Graf on 22 grand slam titles, the most in the Open era, and two behind the all-time leader, Australia’s Margaret Court. Only two women have won more Grand Slam titles…. Six years removed from his last Melbourne final, Federer could be challenged in the third round by Grigor Dimitrov, who pushed Federer to three sets in the Brisbane quarterfinals last week. With the Australian Open starting next week, Nadal’s coaching team spoke about the fourteen-time major champion’s offseason prep. Kohlschreiber is 32 and knows his days as a force are numbered, but he’s a wily veteran who knows how to get under an opponent’s skin. “One thing you can control is your serve”.
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She had the opportunity past year to clinch the only feat missing from her resume and become the first female player since Steffi Graf in 1988 to capture a calendar grand slam at the U.S. Open.
