World no.1 Novak Djokovic’s bid for a third successive Australian Open title has been given a boost with a relatively smooth draw in the first grand slam of the season.
The 25-year-old Serb kicks off his title defence with a first round tie against Paul-Henri Mathieu in the draw announced yesterday and faces no major hurdles until a potentially dangerous quarter-final against fifth-seeded Tomas Berdych.
In a top half of the draw, free of ‘Big Four’ rivals Roger Federer, Andy Murray and the absent Rafa Nadal, a possible semi-final clash with fourth seed David Ferrer looms for Djokovic who beat the Spaniard in the quarter-finals last year.
“I think realistically, three can win,” Australia’s former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash said, referring to Djokovic, second seed Federer and third-seeded Murray.
“You’ve got to say Novak, you’d expect him to be the favourite... but Andy is hitting his peak.”
Federer faces a tough first week in his bid to add to his record 17 grand slam titles, however.
The four-time champion will also play an unseeded Frenchman in Benoit Paire in his opener, but is likely to face former top-10 player Nikolay Davydenko in the second round before a tricky clash with local hope Bernard Tomic in the third.
Big-serving Milos Raonic is then an unpalatable prospect in the last 16, with athletic Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga a good chance to meet the Swiss in the quarter-finals.
Murray will start his campaign against unseeded Robin Haase but the Briton is likely to have one eye on Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro, who looms as a possible quarter-final opponent.
Serena’s track
In the women’s draw, Serena Williams will start her bid for a sixth Melbourne title against Edna Gallo-vits-Hall, with a potential quarter-final clash against Petra Kvitova.
The 31-year-old Williams, raging favourite to win her 16th grand slam singles title and third in a row after her Wimbledon and US Open triumphs last year, would then be in line for a showdown with defending champion Victoria Azarenka.
Azarenka plays another Romanian, Monica Niculescu, in her first round with Caroline Wozniacki a possible quarter-final opponent.
Second seeded Maria Sharapova faces a perilous first week, with a likely third round encounter against Venus Williams following her opening match against Russian compatriot Olga Puchkova.