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Rafa Nadal to face Tomic, Somdev gets tough opener

The Spaniard faces a tough draw, with a potential fourth round clash with 16th-seeded Japanese Kei Nishikori before a possible quarterfinal with Argentine Juan Martin del Potro.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic will play Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko in the first round as he bids for his fourth successive title at Melbourne Park, according to the draw released on Friday.

Andy Murray will play Japan’s Go Soeda in the first round but has been drawn in the same quarter as 17-times Grand Slam champion Roger Federer.

In the women’s draw, world number one Serena Williams will play Australian wildcard Ashleigh Barty in the first round as she bids for her 18th Grand Slam title and sixth at Melbourne Park.

Double defending champion Victoria Azarenka, seeded second, will take on Swede Johanna Larsson according to the draw released on Friday.

Third seed Maria Sharapova will play American Bethanie Mattek-Sands, while fourth seed Li Na, runner-up at Melbourne Park last year, will play a qualifier.

India’s top tennis player Somdev Devvarman was handed a tough draw at the Australian Open as he is pitted against World No. 27 Feliciano Lopez of Spain in the first round of the men’s singles event here.

Pironkova beats Kerber for Sydney title


SYDNEY: Bulgarian qualifier Tsvetana Pironkova crowned a stunning week of top ten scalps with a straight sets victory over fifth seed Angelique Kerber in the final of the Sydney International on Friday.

Pironkova, the world number 107, defeated her third top-ten ranked opponent of the week with a 6-4, 6-4 win in 96 minutes.
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