Gauff has chance to cause further upset

TENNIS: Teenager Coco Gauff was yesterday drawn against Venus Williams in the first round of the Australian Open.

It was victory over Williams for then 14-year-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 season to break into the top 100 and earn direct entry to the draw in Melbourne.

Johanna Konta, the highestranked British player, is seeded 12th but has been struggling with a knee injury and was given a tricky assignment against dangerous Tunisian Ons Jabeur.

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 takes on Kristyna Pliskova.

Defending champion Naomi Osaka opens against Marie Bouzkova and top seed Ashleigh Barty, on whom much of Australia’s focus will be, takes on Lesia Tsurenko.

In the men’s draw, Yorkshire’s Kyle Edmund was given a tricky first assignment against 24th seed Dusan Lajovic, fresh from his ATP Cup triumph with Serbia.

British No 1 Dan Evans - the 30th seed - will face American Mackenzie McDonald, ranked 132. If Evans can reach the third round, then he will have a probable shot at defending champion Novak Djokovic, who opens against German JanLennard Struff.

Roger Federer meets American Steve Johnson, while No 1 seed Rafael Nadal will face Bolivia’s Hugo Dellien.