(Transcript from World News Australia Radio)
The 2014 Australian Open main singles draws have been announced in Melbourne.
As Kristina Kukolja reports, Aussie players will be facing a tough fight to go beyond the first round in the opening Grand Slam of the tennis season.
(Click on audio tab above to listen to this item)
In the men's draw four-time victor Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, will face Slovakia's Lukas Lacko in his first match at the 2014 Australian Open.
The world-number-two is chasing a fifth trophy in Melbourne, possibly his fourth Australian Open title in a row.
Djokovic says he's glad to be back.
"The Australian Open is definitely my most successful Grand Slam, my favourite Grand Slam. I love spending time here, and it's the start of the season so I think most of the players share the same opinion, and we love the atmosphere, and we love the easy energy that goes around and, of course, the tennis fever that is in the whole of Australia. Melbourne loves sports and people appreciate and have a great knowledge about this sport. So, they come in big numbers and support what we do. And, of course, for us it's a pleasure for us to perform."
From the Aussies, Lleyton Hewitt will take on Italy's Andreas Seppi.
But it's Bernard Tomic who's landed a horror first opponent in world-number-one Rafael Nadal.
The Spaniard missed last year's Australian Open due to injury, but returns having amassed 10 titles last season, including the US and French Opens Grand Slam tournaments.
Boris Becker, Novak Djokovic's new coach, says it'll be an interesting match to watch.
"Yeah, the most exciting first round for anybody, a likely night match. Obviously Bernard is still playing in Sydney, so depending on when he finishes the tournament... But yeah, he gets the number one player in the world that hasn't played in Melbourne last year because of injury, and he got one Australian and it'll be quite a contest."
James Duckworth is one of eight Aussies to secure a wildcard entry to this year's tournament, only to go up against world number 6, Roger Federer in his first on court appearance this year.
Channel 7 sports presenter Bruce McAveny, who hosted the main draw, says Federer is making history in Melbourne.
"Federer is playing his 57th consecutive Grand Slam, which is a record. He's been to ten semi-finals in a row here. Hewitt plays his 18th consecutive Australian Open. The record for men in any Grand Slam consecutively is Agassi, 21 at the US Open. So, Lleyton is on 18. For the women Victoria is trying to do what Steffi (Graf), and Monica (Seles) and Martina Hingis did, and that's win three in a row. Serena, if she wins this Grand Slam, joins Chris Evatt and Martina Navratilova on 18, trailing Helen Wills Moody, Steffi Graf and Margaret Court."
In the women's singles, reigning champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus will meet Sweden's Johanna Larsson.
Azarenka says, with a good year behind her, she's excited to be playing in Melbourne again.
"2013 was a really successful year for me. Winning a Grand Slam, I was really consistent in the other Grand Slams and had a great final in the US Open. I had a few injuries, but I think overall the season was pretty successful. I've done things I haven't done before, so I'm really happy with that and I can't wait to start this year. It's already started, but to be back here at the Australian Open playing again."
Australia's top women's player Sam Stosur will meet the Czech Republic's Klara Zakopalova.
Meanwhile, youngster Ashleigh Barty has landed a daunting draw, up against the world's best women's player Serena Williams from the United States.
Casey Dellacqua, who feels she fared somewhat better, will be reunited on court with Vera Zvonareva of Russia.
"A few years ago now probably when she was playing her best tennis, so I have experienced a match against her before, but like you said she is coming back (after) I think probably a good year and a half out of the game and wouldn't have played a match for a while. It'll still be tough. Obviously a quality opponent, but I'm ready to go. So, I'm looking forward to it."
Play gets underway in the Australian Open on Monday morning.
Share
