AUSTRALIA - TENNIS: Novak Djokovic and Kim Clijsters attend draw for Australian Open, learn first round opponents
Record ID:
862482
AUSTRALIA - TENNIS: Novak Djokovic and Kim Clijsters attend draw for Australian Open, learn first round opponents
- Title: AUSTRALIA - TENNIS: Novak Djokovic and Kim Clijsters attend draw for Australian Open, learn first round opponents
- Date: 14th January 2012
- Summary: LONDON, UK (NOVEMBER 19, 2011) (REUTERS) DJOKOVIC PRACTICES AT THE 02 ARENA IN LONDON
- Embargoed: 29th January 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Australia
- City:
- Country: Australia
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVAA47D60CS4EWSS9QJ4YEQFVI5L
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- Story Text: World number one and defending champion Novak Djokovic will kick off his Australian Open title defence with a first-round match against 108th-ranked Italian Paolo Lorenzi.
Djokovic, who attended the draw with women's defending champion Kim Clijsters, is on course for a semi final meeting with world number four Andy Murray.
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are in the other half of the draw for the tournament, which begins on Monday (January 16).
Clijsters faces a qualifier, while top women's seed Caroline Wozniacki gets 107th-ranked local Anastasia Rodionova and second seed Petra Kvitova will play 84th-ranked Russian Vera Dushevina.
Second seed Nadal, the 2009 champion, will have to wait until the weekend to find out his first-round opponent after drawing a qualifier.
World number three Roger Federer, whose last grand slam win was at Melbourne Park in 2010, has also drawn a qualifier.
Fourth seed Andy Murray, bidding for a maiden grand slam and to end Britain's long wait for a men's winner in the majors, has drawn 84th-ranked American Ryan Harrison.
Former U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro faces 87th-ranked Frenchman Adrian Mannarino in the first round.
Djokovic has yet to play competitive tennis in 2012, but believes that will not affect his preparations.
"I have played a lot of matches in 2011 and I felt that I really don't need to perform the first week of the season," he said.
Meanwhile Clijsters said she would have to be at her best from day one of the tournament, or face an early exit.
"You know, you have to be focused from the first round onwards, because there's new players," she said.
"Players that I've never played against before that can cause upsets." - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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