Barty’s tough opener Threats galore in AO first week
ASHLEIGH Barty has been condemned to a potentially perilous first-week at the Australian Open as the world No.1 bids for a second major.
The French Open champion’s path to the second week is threatened by her Wimbledon nemesis Alison Riske, dangerous Madison Keys and her 2019 Melbourne Park conqueror Petra Kvitova.
Barty, attempting to become the nation’s first singles champion since Chris O’Neil in 1978, faces Ukraine veteran Lesia Tsurenko in the first round.
The world champion Queenslander could meet Riske in the fourth round with dual Wimbledon champion Kvitova in the quarter-finals.
Serena Williams looms as a semi-final foe in a draw packed with danger. Chasing a 24th major, the American starts against Russian Anastasia Potapova.
Defending champion
Naomi Osaka, another possible Barty obstacle, plays Czech Marie Bouzkova.
Highlight of the women’s opening round is the clash between the oldest and youngest players in the draw – Venus Williams, 39, and Cori Gauff, 15. Gauff beat Williams at Wimbledon.
Sam Stosur drew a qualifier, while Astra Sharma starts against Estonian 28th seed Anett Kontaveit.
Nick Kyrgios, the nation’s top-ranked man in Alex de Minaur’s absence, opens against world No.52 Italian Lorenzo Sonego.
Kyrgios is a key beneficiary from the sidelining of Kei Nishikori, Lucas Pouille and de Minaur, vaulting to 23rd in the seedings and avoiding any of the top eight until the fourth round.
If the Canberran reaches the round of 16, his projected opponent is world No.1 Rafael Nadal but he would first have to deal with Russian powerhouse Karen Khachanov in the third round.
Defending men’s champion Novak Djokovic faces German Jan-Lennard Struff, and sees Nadal and Roger Federer as his main dangers, along with a cluster of emerging threats.
The Serb nominated Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev as potential champions.
“But hopefully this won’t be the year,” he said. “We (Nadal, Federer and Djokovic) are working on winning the slams this year.”