Federer targets Aussie hat-trick
But there are no easy matches at the Melbourne Slam as he bids for 100th title
DOUBLE defending champion Roger Federer will start his bid for a hattrick of Australian Open titles next week against unseeded Uzbek Denis Istomin, who caused a huge upset when he defeated Novak Djokovic in the second round two years ago.
The draw for the first Grand Slam of the season was made yesterday and the top seeds could face some early tests of their title credentials when play gets underway on Monday.
Six-time Australian champion Federer, who beat Marin Cilic in last year’s final, could meet the Croat in the quarter-finals should the Swiss come through a potentially tricky fourth round encounter against Greek prospect Stefanos Tsitsipas.
The 37-year-old, seeded third, is bidding to extend his all-time leading men’s Grand Slam record to 21 titles and would capture a 100th ATP tournament win in the process.
“I always have tried to remind myself that this is a dream,” Federer said of his longevity.
“I’m surprised that I’m still at this level, that I’m still in the top 10 (in the world rankings).”
Men’s top seed Djokovic, who was defending his title when he lost to Istomin, will first meet a qualifier in his bid for a record seventh Melbourne title and third Grand Slam crown in succession following wins at Wimbledon and the US Open.
Serb Djokovic could then play a rematch of his 2008 final triumph over Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the second round, with a possible quarter-final against Japan’s Kei Nishikori to follow.
Second seed Rafa Nadal, under an injury cloud after pulling out of the Brisbane International, will open against unseeded local James Duckworth.
Last year’s semi-finalist Kyle Edmund looms as a possible fourth round match-up for the Spaniard, who could then face big-serving South African Kevin Anderson in the quarters.
The 2009 champion Nadal, who retired hurt in the quarter-finals against Cilic last year, could meet old rival Federer in the last four should his body hold up.
In the women’s draw, Serena Williams’s bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title and eighth at Melbourne Park will kick off against German world No 71 Tatjana Maria.
The American great, beaten by Naomi Osaka in the 2018 US Open final after a fiery tirade against the chair umpire, faces a tough run to the quarter-finals, with top seed and last year’s finalist Simona Halep a possible fourth round encounter.
Halep, however, may be reluctant to look beyond the first round, having drawn her US Open nemesis Kaia Kanepi.
Unseeded Estonian Kanepi knocked Halep out of the first round at Flushing Meadows last year, making the Romanian the first top seed to lose at that tournament’s earliest stage.
Venus Williams, defeated by younger sister Serena in the 2017 Melbourne final, also looms as a possible third round opponent for Halep. Fourth seed Osaka faces Poland’s Magda Linette first up.