Nadal gets easy Australian draw, Djokovic doesn’t
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA — Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic arrived here one year ago as the top two seeds at the Australian Open tennis tournament. When both departed before the quarter-finals, it cleared the way for Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to reach the final.
With Nadal and Federer now entrenched as top seeds, Djokovic, a six-time champion here, has the chance to prove spoiler in his first tournament since an elbow injury forced him out of Wimbledon. (Murray has had hip surgery that will keep him out until at least June.)
Djokovic, seeded 14th, opens against 63rd-ranked Donald Young, and could face 39thranked Gael Monfils — who was himself ranked sixth a year ago — in the second round. Djokovic’s slated fourth-round opponent is fourth-seeded wunderkind Alexander Zverev. Their quarter is rounded out by fifthseeded Dominic Thiem and ninth-seeded Stan Wawrinka.
Djokovic is in the bottom half anchored by second-seeded Roger Federer, who opens his title defence against 51st-ranked Aljaz Bedene. Federer could face seventh-seeded David Goffin or 12th-seeded Juan Martin del Potro in the quarter-finals.
The top half appears relatively open for top-seeded Nadal, who opens against 81st-ranked Victor Estrella Burgos. Nadal could face sixth-seeded Marin Cilic in the quarter-finals before a meeting with third-seeded Grigor Dimitrov in the semis.
On the women’s side, Serena Williams is not defending her title as she regains her fitness after childbirth, leaving the family interests in the hands of defending finalist Venus Williams. Venus was dealt one of the toughest possible opening draws, facing 77th-ranked Belinda Bencic, a teen prodigy whose ranking fell after undergoing left wrist surgery last year.
Williams’ quarter also includes fourth-seeded Elina Svitolina and 13th-seeded Sloane Stephens, who won last year’s U.S. Open but has lost all seven matches she’s played since. Those players are on the bottom half with second-seeded Caroline Wozniacki, who is ranked inside the top two for the first time since 2012.
Top seed Simona Halep opens against wild card Destanee Aiava, and could face slumping star Eugenie Bouchard in the second round. Reigning Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza, seeded third, rounds out the top half of the draw and could face a daunting test in the third round from either 2016 champion Angelique Kerber or 2008 champion Maria Sharapova.