Melbourne, Australia (Sports Network) - Reigning two-time champion Novak
Djokovic would not have to meet Roger Federer or Andy Murray until the
championship match, as the draw for the Australian Open was revealed on
Friday. The first Grand Slam event of 2013 will commence Monday at Melbourne
Park.
The world No. 1 Djokovic will try to become the first three-peat Aussie Open
champion in the Open Era and only the third four-time overall Melbourne champ.
He also captured this event in 2008.
Djokovic outlasted Spanish great Rafael Nadal in the longest-ever Grand Slam
final at last year's Aussie. The seven-time French Open titlist Nadal,
however, will miss the latest edition of the Down Under Slam while he
recovers from illness and injury.
The five-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic will open his title defense against
oft-injured Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu and could meet 20th-seeded American
Sam Querrey in the fourth round. A possible quarterfinal opponent could be
fifth-seeded former Wimbledon runner-up Tomas Berdych, while a trip to the
final could produce a marquee match against the four-time champion and 2009
runner-up Federer or the two-time Aussie finalist Murray.
Berdych will open his fortnight against American journeyman Michael Russell.
The bottom half of the draw features the second-seeded Federer and third-
seeded Murray. Federer will open up against France's Benoit Paire next week,
while Murray will meet Dutch slugger Robin Haase in the round of 128.
Murray is fresh off his title in Brisbane last week and is also the reigning
U.S. Open and Olympic champ. He'll be attempting to win a second straight
major.
The 17-time Grand Slam and reigning Wimbledon champion Federer could face
former Aussie runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in quarterfinals and Murray or
former U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro in the semis. The sixth-seeded
del Potro will open against a qualifier next week and could battle Murray in
the quarters.
In addition to Djokovic, the top half of the draw also features fourth seed
David Ferrer, who will open his 2013 Aussie stay against diminutive Belgian
Olivier Rochus. Ferrer's potential quarterfinal opponent could be eighth-
seeded Janko Tipsarevic, who will tangle with aging Aussie hero Lleyton Hewitt
in round one. The former world No. 1 Hewitt is a two-time major champion and
was the Aussie Open runner-up back in 2005.
Tipsarevic was a titlist in Chennai, India last week.
If Ferrer can reach the semis, the formidable Djokovic could be waiting.
The Sports Network