IT’S GO THIEM

Kyrgios faces blockbuster against Austrian ace

A THIRD-ROUND blockbuster match-up against last year’s finalist Dominic Thiem awaits Australia’s great local hope Nick Kyrgios.

While a refreshed Kyrgios has been tipped by many to be a contender at this year’s Australian Open, an injury scare and tough draw is set to temper those expectations.

It was certainly better news for world No.1 Ash Barty who has avoided Serena Williams in her half of the draw but potentially has an all-Australian second round match-up with Daria Gavrilova.

Kyrgios, the world No.47, was hampered by a knee injury in his third-round loss to Croatia’s Borna Coric in the Murray River Open on Friday.

His opening match next week is against Portugal’s qualifier Frederico Ferreira

Silva but then he faces a much tougher task against No.29 seed Ugo Humbert.

The prospect of a thirdround match-up with reigning US Open champion Thiem, who lost in five sets to Novak Djokovic in last year’s final, is a promoter’s dream.

Australia’s only men’s seed Alex de Minaur received no favours with a tough firstround opponent in American Tennys Sandgren, a quarter-finalist at Melbourne Park last year.

If he gets through that encounter the 21-year-old potentially runs into No.2 seed Rafael Nadal in the fourth round.

Barty, who is undefeated in her return to the court this week after an 11-month lay-off, takes on Montenegro’s world No.77 Danka Kovinic in the opening round.

The possible all-Australian second round match-up would require Gavrilova to defeat Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo first-up.

Last year’s winner Sofia Kenin — who plays Australian wildcard Maddison Inglis in Round 1 — is in Barty’s half of the draw but the pair will potentially only meet in the semifinals.

Williams, who is searching to equal Margaret Court’s grand slam record, is in the tougher section of the draw with No.2 seed Simona Halep and 2019 winner Naomi Osaka.

Halep plays Australian wildcard Lizette Cabrera in the opening round while veteran Sam Stosur faces fellow local wildcard Destanee Aiava.

Other interesting match-ups for the Aussie men include John Millman taking on Frenchman Corentin Moutet before a potential tough second round against big-serving No.14 seed Milos Raonic.

Bernard Tomic plays Japan’s Yuichi Sugita.

Wildcard Alexei Popyrin has a tough opening gig against 13th seed David Goffin while Jordan Thompson also faces a seed, world No.24 Casper Ruud.

Thanasi Kokkinakis plays Korea’s Soonwoo Kwon first-up.