Testing Oz draws for Murray, Novak
Melbourne, Jan. 13: World number one Andy Murray could face challenges from Kei Nishikori and Stan Wawrinka if he is to reach a sixth Australian Open final following Friday’s draw.
The Scot, coming off a magnificent 2016 with a second Wimbledon crown, a successful Olympic title defence and the year-end top ranking, has lost five Melbourne finals, four of those to defending champion Novak Djokovic.
Murray, who was knighted in Britain’s New Year Honours list, faces Ukraine’s Illya Marchenko first up and could meet Japanese fifth seed Nishikori or Swiss legend Roger Federer in the quarters and 2014 winner Wawrinka in the semis.
Federer, seeded 17, faces a qualifier first up and could play 10th seed Tomas Berdych in the third round as he bids to add to his record 17 Grand Slam titles.
Djokovic, in the bottom half of the men’s draw as the second seed, has a tough firstround against experienced Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.
Verdasco, has beaten Djokovic four times in their 13 encounters and the Serb had to save five match points in prevailing over him earlier this month in the semi-finals in Doha.
Last year Verdasco knocked out compatriot Rafael Nadal in a fivesetter first round thriller in Melbourne.
Serbia’s Djokovic, bidding for a record seventh Australian Open title, is seeded to face Grigor Dimitrov in the fourth round and powerful Austrian eighth seed Dominic Thiem in the quarters.
He could then meet Canada’s third seeded Milos Raonic in the semi-finals. — AFP