World No.1 Iga Swiatek will start her participation in the Australian Open with a match against German tennis player Jule Niemeier. No. 10 seed Hubert Hurkacz will face Spaniard Pedro Martinez, and Magda Linette will play against Egyptian Mayar Sherif.
Swiatek to face Niemeier
Swiatek has only played against Niemeier once before. The Pole, after an unexpectedly fierce three-set battle, won against her in the 1/8 final of last year’s US Open. The 23-year-old Niemeier is currently ranked 68th on the WTA list.
If Iga wins, she will face either Colombian Camila Osorio (WTA 82nd) or Hungarian Panna Udvardy (WTA 90th).
It will be Świątek’s fifth appearance at the Australian Open. In the previous edition, she reached the semi-finals, where she succumbed to Danielle Collins. The American is seeded 13th and Swiatek could have a rematch in the 1/8 final.
Linette against Sherif
The match between Linette (WTA 46th) and Sherif (WTA 52nd) promises to be a balanced one. The 30-year-old Pole against the four years younger Egyptian has not played so far. Sherif claimed the only tournament victory of her career in Parma in October.
Hurkacz vs. Martinez
Hurkacz has played only once in an ATP-ranked event against the currently 58th-ranked Martinez. He beat him in Mont Carlo last year. The Pole also topped him in 2018 in the deciding round of US Open qualifying.
Hurkacz’s potential 2nd round opponent will be determined by a match between Italian Lorenzo Sonego (ATP 44th) and Portuguese Nuno Borges (ATP 112th).
The draw took place on Thursday in Melbourne (Men’s Draw; Women’s Draw). The tournament will begin on Monday. A year ago, Ashleigh Barty and Rafael Nadal were the best. The Australian will not defend her title as she ended her career a few weeks after that success. The Spaniard, on the other hand, will face Britain’s Jack Draper in the first round.