Australian Open 2020 draw, seeds: who will Ash Barty, Nick Kyrgios face?

Ash Barty's path to Australian Open glory could become treacherous quickly after the world No.1 was dealt a tricky hand at the draw on Thursday night - while Australia's other hopefuls were handed a mixed bag of opponents.

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Ashleigh Barty has been condemned to a potentially perilous first-week at the Australian Open as the world No 1 bids for a second major.

 

The French Open champion’s path to the second week is threatened by her Wimbledon nemesis Alison Riske, dangerous Madison Keys and her 2019 Melbourne Park conqueror Petra Kvitova.

Barty, attempting to become the nation’s first singles champion since Chris O’Neil in 1978, faces Ukraine veteran Lesia Tsurenko in the first round.

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World No.1 Ash Barty has been dealt a mighty tough draw to start her Australian Open campaign.

The world champion Queenslander could meet Riske in the fourth round with dual Wimbledon champion Kvitova in the quarter-finals.

Serena Williams looms as a semi-final foe in a draw packed with danger. Chasing a 24th major, the American starts against Russian Anastasia Potapova.

Defending champion Naomi Osaka, another possible Barty obstacle, plays Czech Marie Bouzkova.

Highlight of the women’s opening round is the clash between the oldest and youngest players in the draw – Venus Williams, 39, and Cori Gauff, 15.

Gauff beat Williams at Wimbledon.

Coco Gauff, incredibly, will face off again with Venus Williams - who she toppled at Wimbledon last year.

Sam Stosur drew a qualifier, while Astra Sharma starts against Estonian 28th seed Anett Kontaveit.

Nick Kyrgios, the nation’s top-ranked man in Alex de Minaur’s absence, opens against world No. 52 Italian Lorenzo Sonego.

Kyrgios is a key beneficiary from the sidelining of Kei Nishikori, Lucas Pouille and de Minaur, vaulting to 23rd in the seedings and avoiding any of the top eight until the fourth round.

If the Canberran reaches the round of 16, his projected opponent is world No 1 Rafael Nadal but would first have to deal with Russian powerhouse Karen Khachanov in the third round.

Nick Kyrgios has a potential fourth-round showdown with rival Rafael Nadal.

Kyrgios is adopting a low-key approach.

“I’m not thinking about it too much, result-wise,” he said.

“I just want to go out there and bring a positive vibe to the whole thing.

“That’s really it.

“The body is fine. For me personally it’s been an emotional couple of weeks.

“The Oz Open is around the corner but, for me, my focus has been elsewhere (on bushfire relief fund-raisers).

“I’m excited. The Australian Open, I’m not gonna take that for granted.”

Defending champion Novak Djokovic encounters Jan-Lennard Struff in the first round.

Defending men’s champion Novak Djokovic faces German Jan-Lennard Struff, identifying familiar foes Nadal and Roger Federer as his main dangers – along with a cluster of emerging threats.

The Serb nominated Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev as potential champions.

“But hopefully this won’t be the year,” he said. “We (Nadal, Federer and Djokovic) are working on winning the slams this year.”

Djokovic bids for a record eighth title, while Federer, who bids for a seventh crown, starts against American Steve Johnson.

Nadal opens against Bolivian Hugo Dellien.

Andrew Harris drew the highest-ranked opponent when he landed next to Italian eighth seed Matteo Berrettini in the first round.

Alexei Popyrin (French 28th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga) and John-Patrick Smith (Argentine 22nd seed Guido Pella) also have tough early assignments.

THE AUSTRALIANS

WOMEN

1 - Ash Barty v Lesia Tsurenko (Ukr)

Ajla Tomljanovic v 31-Anastasija Sevastova (Lat)

Samantha Stosur v qualifier 

Arina Rodionova v Kateryna Bondarenko (Ukr)

Astra Sharma v 28 Anett Kontaveit (Est)

Priscilla Hon v Kateryna Kozlova (Ukr)

Lizette Cabrera v qualifier

MEN

26 – Nick Kyrgios v Lorenzo Sonego (Ita)

John Millman v Ugo Humbert (Fra)

Jordan Thompson v Alexander Bublik (Kaz)

James Duckworth v Aljaz Bedene (Slo)

Alexei Popyrin v 28-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (Fra)

Christopher O’Connell v 17-Andrey Rublev (Rus)

Marc Polmans v Mikhail Kukushkin (Kaz)

Alex Bolt v Albert Ramos-Vinolas (Spa)

Andrew Harris v 8-Matteo Berrettini (Ita)

John-Patrick Smith v 22-Guido Pella (Arg)

Originally published as Australian Open 2020 draw, seeds: who will Ash Barty, Nick Kyrgios face?

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