DRAW A SHOCKER
Unseeded Aussies to face fancied opponents
NICK Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic have paid a heavy price for slipped rankings, drawing Wimbledon finalists Milos Raonic and Marin Cilic in horror first-round Australian Open pairings.
Unseeded, the controversial duo have fallen out of the top 20 after troubled 2018 seasons – and now face massive challenges to survive the first Melbourne Park hurdle.
James Duckworth also faces a huge task with an opening-round appointment with second seed RaAustralia’s fael Nadal. Alex de Minaur landed in 17-time major winner Nadal’s section and is seeded to meet the Spaniard in the third round, providing he handles Portugal’s Pedro Sousa first up.
top women fared much better with 15th seed Ash Barty to start against Thai Larisa Kumkhum and Daria Gavrilova against Slovenian Tamara Zidansek.
But there were daunting draws for Ajla Tomljanovic, who plays Briton Johanna Konta, and teenager Destanee Aaiva, who faces 17th seed Madison Keys first up.
Defending champion Roger Federer, chasing a record seventh Open crowns, will open against Denis Istomin. Owner of a record 20 majors, Federer would reach the century milestone of titles if he wins a third successive Norman Brookes Challenge Cup.
“Ninety nine is already an incredible number and I could live happily on 99 but when you’re so close,” Federer, 37, said.
“Every tournament I go to we will talk about it but I don’t want to think too far ahead. Reaching 100 will be truly special for me.”
Winner of the past two Open titles, Federer said Melbourne Park “has been a very emotional place for me to play”.
AFTER losing the Sydney International final last year, Ashleigh Barty is hellbent on taking out the title to boost her Australian Open campaign as she surged into the semi-finals.
Barty took out world No.12 Elise Mertens 6-3 6-3 at Ken Rosewall Arena on Thursday, the day after her stunning upset of world No.1 Simona Halep.
The Australian star will face world No.9 Kiki Bertens on Friday for a place in the decider – she lost the 2018 Sydney final to Angelique Kerber.
“(I’m) obviously extremely determined, I had a taste of what it was like last year and I’m very keen to keep going as best that I can,” Barty said.
“I know I’m playing good tennis. I’m well-prepared. Now it’s about going out there and executing and trying to finish this week off strongly before worrying about next week.
“I feel like I have played what, now, six really good singles matches. I feel like there haven’t been too many times where I have felt uncomfortable on the court.
“I’ve felt like I’ve been in control of most of them, which is really pleasing, and I think putting myself in the position towards the business end of the tournament, which is what you want to do.”
Barty took just one hour and 16 minutes to demolish Mertens 6-3 6-3.
The 10th seed Belgian had few answers to Barty’s speed and strength.
“It was important to try to get ahead in games today, Elise is a great frontrunner,” Barty said.
“I knew I had to try to take control of those first two or three points in games to give myself a chance. One sloppy game from me on serve in the second set was probably the only blemish.”
After defeating Halep in hot and windy conditions on Wednesday, Barty looked just as comfortable in overcast humidity.
“It’s a tournament you always have to look at the weather for the next day to kind of prepare mentally and get yourself ready, because conditions can change dramatically,” Barty said.
“When the sun’s out, it’s very lively. When it’s not, it can be quite dead and heavy when it’s more humid. It’s something you have to be aware of, but it’s not something that fazes me. You can play in different conditions across the world, across the whole year.
“Here it’s just a little bit more condensed from day to day.”