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Australian Open horror draw for Bernard Tomic and Ashleigh Barty Australian Open horror draw for Bernard Tomic and Ashleigh Barty
(about 2 hours later)
Australians have been drawn against the world No 1 in both the men's and women's draw for the Australian Open.Australians have been drawn against the world No 1 in both the men's and women's draw for the Australian Open.
Bernard Tomic will play Rafael Nadal, while youngster Ashleigh Barty will face Serena Williams in the opening round.Bernard Tomic will play Rafael Nadal, while youngster Ashleigh Barty will face Serena Williams in the opening round.
Australia's only seeded player, Sam Stosur, the 17th seed, will meet Czech Klara Zakopalova – the same player she faces in the Hobart International semi-finals on Friday.Australia's only seeded player, Sam Stosur, the 17th seed, will meet Czech Klara Zakopalova – the same player she faces in the Hobart International semi-finals on Friday.
Stosur is drawn to meet the 14th seed Ana Ivanovic of Serbia in the third round, if both win their first two matches.Stosur is drawn to meet the 14th seed Ana Ivanovic of Serbia in the third round, if both win their first two matches.
In-form veteran Lleyton Hewitt didn't fare quite as badly as Tomic, but still faces a tough first-round match against Italian 24th seed Andreas Seppi.In-form veteran Lleyton Hewitt didn't fare quite as badly as Tomic, but still faces a tough first-round match against Italian 24th seed Andreas Seppi.
Nadal missed last year's Open with a knee injury, but the 2009 champion finished 2013 in superb form, amassing 10 titles for the season.Nadal missed last year's Open with a knee injury, but the 2009 champion finished 2013 in superb form, amassing 10 titles for the season.
Former world No.1 Boris Becker, now coach of defending champion Novak Djokovic, said the Nadal-Tomic clash would be a must-watch encounter.Former world No.1 Boris Becker, now coach of defending champion Novak Djokovic, said the Nadal-Tomic clash would be a must-watch encounter.
"There is never an easy match, but Bernard is playing well in Australia, against the No 1 player in the world, it will be something everyone is glued on television to," Becker said."There is never an easy match, but Bernard is playing well in Australia, against the No 1 player in the world, it will be something everyone is glued on television to," Becker said.
Speaking the day before Friday's draw, Tomic said he was not worried about facing big names early on.Speaking the day before Friday's draw, Tomic said he was not worried about facing big names early on.
"You want to try and avoid the big guys, but if you're confident, if you're doing the right things, and you feel fit, why not playing them the first round or two?," he said."You want to try and avoid the big guys, but if you're confident, if you're doing the right things, and you feel fit, why not playing them the first round or two?," he said.
"If that happens I have to play someone big, it's an opportunity.""If that happens I have to play someone big, it's an opportunity."
It's a mountainous task for Barty, but other Australian women fared better in the draw.It's a mountainous task for Barty, but other Australian women fared better in the draw.
Casey Dellacqua will start her tournament against the Russian Vera Zvonareva, a former world No 2 on the comeback trail from a long injury absence. Barty's doubles partner Casey Dellacqua will start her tournament against Russian Vera Zvonareva, a former world No 2 on the comeback trail from a long injury absence.
Dellacqua said Barty should consider her first-round clash with Williams as an opportunity rather than a horror draw.
"What an experience for Ash to be able to play the No 1 in the world in Australia, in her backyard," she said.
Jarmila Gajdosova plays German ninth seed Angelique Kerber, while Storm Sanders meets Italian Camila Giorgi and Olivia Rogowska will take on Colombian Mariana Duque-Marino.Jarmila Gajdosova plays German ninth seed Angelique Kerber, while Storm Sanders meets Italian Camila Giorgi and Olivia Rogowska will take on Colombian Mariana Duque-Marino.
On the men's side, Australian wildcard entrant James Duckworth also has an extremely tough opening encounter, facing 17-time grand slam title winner Roger Federer.On the men's side, Australian wildcard entrant James Duckworth also has an extremely tough opening encounter, facing 17-time grand slam title winner Roger Federer.
Another Australian, Marinko Matosevic, also drew a tough opponent, Japan's 16th seed Kei Nishikori.Another Australian, Marinko Matosevic, also drew a tough opponent, Japan's 16th seed Kei Nishikori.
The winner of that match could face Hewitt in the third round.The winner of that match could face Hewitt in the third round.
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