Australian Open draw: Coco Gauff faces Venus Williams reunion in first round
Coco Gauff was sensationally drawn against Venus Williams again in the first round of the Australian Open. It was victory over Williams for the then-14year-old qualifier Gauff at the same stage of Wimbledon that catapulted the American teenager to global stardom.
Gauff, now 15, has built on her breakthrough brilliantly, winning her first WTA tournament at the end of last stardom to break into the top 100 and earn direct entry to the draw in Melbourne.
Johanna Konta, the highest-ranked British player, is No 12 seed but has been struggling with a knee injury and has a tricky assignment against Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur, the world No 85. A difficult section could also see Konta come up against Caroline Garcia, Caroline Wozniacki or Dayana Yastremska and, potentially in the fourth round, Serena Williams.
Katie Boulter’s return to grand slam tennis after six months out with a back injury will come against fifth seed Elina Svitolina, while Heather Watson – who is through to the semi-finals of the Hobart International – takes on Kristyna Pliskova.
Defending champion Naomi Osaka opens against the world No 59 Marie Bouzkova while the top seed and home hope Ashleigh Barty takes on Lesia Tsurenko.
In the men’s draw, British No 1 Dan Evans has been drawn to face American Mackenzie McDonald. It was confirmed shortly before the draw that Evans will
be the No 30 seed for the tournament – the first time he has been among the top 32 at a grand slam.
World No 132 McDonald should represent a good draw and, if Evans can reach the third round, he could face the defending champion Novak Djokovic.
Kyle Edmund was given a tricky first assignment against No 24 seed Dusan Lajovic, fresh from his ATP
Cup triumph alongside Djokovic with Serbia, while Cameron Norrie will take on France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert.
Djokovic opens against dangerous German Jan-Lennard Struff, the world No 37, while Roger Federer, who is in the same half as the Serb, meets American Steve Johnson. Top seed Rafael Nadal faces Bolivia’s Hugo Dellien.
Nick Kyrgios, promoted to Australian No 1 following the withdrawal of Alex De Minaur, could be a fourthround opponent for Nadal, who is scheduled to meet his US Open final opponent Daniil Medvedev in the last four.