Djokovic lands favorable draw
Source: Agencies |
January 12, 2013, Saturday
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NOVAK Djokovic's bid for a third consecutive Australia Open title got a boost when No. 2-ranked Roger Federer and US Open champion Andy Murray both landed in the other half when the official draw was made yesterday.
Top-ranked Djokovic will face Paul-Henri Mathieu in the first round and also has fifth-seeded Tomas Berdych and fourth-seeded David Ferrer in his half. Ferrer is the highest-ranked Spaniard in the absence of 11-time major winner Rafael Nadal, who hasn't played on the tour since the middle of 2012 due to a left knee injury.
"He was a top-20 player before. He knows what it's like to be on the big stage. He has a lot of quality and experience," Djokovic said of Mathieu. "I am looking forward to it."
Federer has a potential third-round match against local hope Bernard Tomic. Federer, a four-time Australian Open winner, could face Murray in the semifinals. Murray, who ended a 76-year drought for British men at grand slam events when he won the US Open last year, will start his campaign against Robin Haase of the Netherlands and a potential quarterfinal against sixth-seeded Juan Martin Del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion.
In the women's draw, Victoria Azarenka and Serena Williams are in the same half, setting up the prospect of a semifinal match between the defending champion and the title favorite.
Top-ranked Azarenka has lost 11 of her 12 matches against Serena, who won the Wimbledon and the US Open last year. Serena has won five Australian titles, more than any other woman in the Open era, and is in dominant form after winning 35 of her last 36 matches.
No. 2-ranked Maria Sharapova, the French Open champion, is on the other half of the draw with No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska, No. 5 Angelique Kerber and No. 6 Li Na. She could meet Venus Williams in the third round.
Top-ranked Djokovic will face Paul-Henri Mathieu in the first round and also has fifth-seeded Tomas Berdych and fourth-seeded David Ferrer in his half. Ferrer is the highest-ranked Spaniard in the absence of 11-time major winner Rafael Nadal, who hasn't played on the tour since the middle of 2012 due to a left knee injury.
"He was a top-20 player before. He knows what it's like to be on the big stage. He has a lot of quality and experience," Djokovic said of Mathieu. "I am looking forward to it."
Federer has a potential third-round match against local hope Bernard Tomic. Federer, a four-time Australian Open winner, could face Murray in the semifinals. Murray, who ended a 76-year drought for British men at grand slam events when he won the US Open last year, will start his campaign against Robin Haase of the Netherlands and a potential quarterfinal against sixth-seeded Juan Martin Del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion.
In the women's draw, Victoria Azarenka and Serena Williams are in the same half, setting up the prospect of a semifinal match between the defending champion and the title favorite.
Top-ranked Azarenka has lost 11 of her 12 matches against Serena, who won the Wimbledon and the US Open last year. Serena has won five Australian titles, more than any other woman in the Open era, and is in dominant form after winning 35 of her last 36 matches.
No. 2-ranked Maria Sharapova, the French Open champion, is on the other half of the draw with No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska, No. 5 Angelique Kerber and No. 6 Li Na. She could meet Venus Williams in the third round.
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