Kyrgios to face Brazilian in opener

NICK Kyrgios will launch his Australian Open campaign against Brazil’s world No. 100 Rogerio Dutra Silva.

As Australia’s top-ranked player and the men’s 17th seed, Kyrgios’s first big test is likely to come against French 15th seed and former finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the third round.

Kyrgios, a quarter-finalist in 2014, could strike Bulgarian world No. 3 Grigor Dimitrov, who won the 2017 season-ending championship, in the fourth round. Australian No. 2 Matt Ebden has a tough opener against big-serving American 16th seed John Isner, while inform teenage wildcard Alex de Minaur is up against 15th-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych.

World No. 1 Rafael Nadal opens against Victor Estrella Burgos, while defending champion and second seed Roger Federer plays Slovenia’s Aljaz Bedene in the first round.

Six-time champion Novak Djokovic, seeded a lowly 14th after six months out of tennis with an elbow injury, has landed in the quarter of world No. 4 Alexander Zverev and will open against Donald Young.

Australian women’s No. 1 Ashleigh Barty, the 18th seed, faces Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, while 23rd seed Daria Gavrilova opens against a qualifier in her bid to reach the second week for a thirdstraight year.

Samantha Stosur plays Puerto Rico’s reigning Olympic champion Monica Puig. Teenage wildcard Destanee Aiava, who yesterday said she needs a break from tennis after the Open, drew drawing Romanian world No. 1 Simona Halep in the first round.