An easier start for Sam Stosur in the opening round, where she will face a qualifier.
And round one blockbuster – Coco Gauff against Venus Williams! A rematch of last year's classic.
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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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.
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.
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 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)
Updates
Alexi Popyrin has a first-round showdown with 28th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Who the Aussie women face in round one
WHO THE AUSSIE WOMEN PLAY @AustralianOpen
— Darren Walton (@DarrenWalton369) January 16, 2020
Barty v Tsurenko
Tomljanovic v Sevatsova
Stosur v qualifier
Hon v Kozlova
Sharma v Kontaveit
Cabrera v qualifier
Rodionova v Bondarenko#AustralianOpen
QUARTER ONE
1.Ash Barty v Lesia Tsurenko
Polona Hercog v Rebecca Peterson
Aliaksandra Sasnovich v Qualifier
Bernarda Pera v 29.Elena Rybakina
18.Alison Riske v Yafan Wang
Viktorija Golubic v Lin Zhu
Julia Goerges v Viktoria Kuzmova
Christina McHale v 13.Petra Martic
10.Madison Keys v Daria Kasatkina
Magda Linette v Arantxa Rus
Qualifier v Shuai Peng
Margarita Gasparyan v 22.Maria Sakkari
25.Ekaterina Alexandrova v Jil Teichmann
Kaia Kanepi v Qualifier
Paula Badosa v Qualifier
Katerina Siniakova v 7.Petra Kvitova
QUARTER TWO
3.Naomi Osaka v Marie Bouzkova
Saisai Zheng v Qualifier
Venus Williams v Coco Gauff
Sorana Cirstea v 32.Barbora Strycova
24.Sloane Stephens v Shuai Zhang
Samantha Stosur v Qualifier
Qualifier v Lizette Cabrera
Qualifier v 14.Sofia Kenin
12.Johanna Konta v Ons Jabeur
Madison Brengle v Caroline Garcia
Kristie Ahn v Caroline Wozniacki
Qualifier v 23.Dayana Yastremska
27.Qiang Wang v Pauline Parmentier
Fiona Ferro v Alison Van Uytvanck
Tamara Zidansek v Na-Lae Han
Anastasia Potapova v 8.Serena Williams
QUARTER THREE
6.Belinda Bencic v Anna Karolina Schmiedlova
Qualifier v Jelena Ostapenko
Sara Sorribes Tormo v Veronika Kudermetova
Astra Sharma v 28.Anett Kontaveit
19.Donna Vekic v Maria Sharapova
Alize Cornet v Qualifier
Iga Swiatek v Timea Babos
Carla Suarez Navarro v 11.Aryna Sabalenka
16.Elise Mertens v Danka Kovinic
Kristyna Pliskova v Heather Watson
Catherine Bellis v Tatjana Maria
Kirsten Flipkens v 20.Karolina Muchova
26.Danielle Collins v Vitalia Diatchenko
Yulia Putintseva v Su-Wei Hsieh
Qualifier v Misaki Doi
Jennifer Brady v 4.Simona Halep
QUARTER FOUR
5.Elina Svitolina v Katie Boulter
Lauren Davis v Qualifier
Garbine Muguruza v Qualifier
Ajla Tomljanovic v 31.Anastasija Sevastova
21.Amanda Anisimova v Zarina Diyas
Jasmine Paolini v Anna Blinkova
Kateryna Bondarenko v Arina Rodionova
Irina-Camelia Begu v 9.Kiki Bertens
15.Marketa Vondrousova v Svetlana Kuznetsova
Qualifier v Camila Giorgi
Kateryna Kozlova v Priscilla Hon
Qualifier v 17.Angelique Kerber
30.Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova v Nina Stojanovic
Taylor Townsend v Jessica Pegula
Laura Siegemund v CoCo Vandeweghe
Kristina Mladenovic v 2.Karolina Pliskova
WOMEN'S SINGLES DRAW IN FULL
QUARTER ONE
1.Ash Barty v Lesia Tsurenko
Polona Hercog v Rebecca Peterson
Aliaksandra Sasnovich v Qualifier
Bernarda Pera v 29.Elena Rybakina
18.Alison Riske v Yafan Wang
Viktorija Golubic v Lin Zhu
Julia Goerges v Viktoria Kuzmova
Christina McHale v 13.Petra Martic
10.Madison Keys v Daria Kasatkina
Magda Linette v Arantxa Rus
Qualifier v Shuai Peng
Margarita Gasparyan v 22.Maria Sakkari
25.Ekaterina Alexandrova v Jil Teichmann
Kaia Kanepi v Qualifier
Paula Badosa v Qualifier
Katerina Siniakova v 7.Petra Kvitova
QUARTER TWO
3.Naomi Osaka v Marie Bouzkova
Saisai Zheng v Qualifier
Venus Williams v Coco Gauff
Sorana Cirstea v 32.Barbora Strycova
24.Sloane Stephens v Shuai Zhang
Samantha Stosur v Qualifier
Qualifier v Lizette Cabrera
Qualifier v 14.Sofia Kenin
12.Johanna Konta v Ons Jabeur
Madison Brengle v Caroline Garcia
Kristie Ahn v Caroline Wozniacki
Qualifier v 23.Dayana Yastremska
27.Qiang Wang v Pauline Parmentier
Fiona Ferro v Alison Van Uytvanck
Tamara Zidansek v Na-Lae Han
Anastasia Potapova v 8.Serena Williams
QUARTER THREE
6.Belinda Bencic v Anna Karolina Schmiedlova
Qualifier v Jelena Ostapenko
Sara Sorribes Tormo v Veronika Kudermetova
Astra Sharma v 28.Anett Kontaveit
19.Donna Vekic v Maria Sharapova
Alize Cornet v Qualifier
Iga Swiatek v Timea Babos
Carla Suarez Navarro v 11.Aryna Sabalenka
16.Elise Mertens v Danka Kovinic
Kristyna Pliskova v Heather Watson
Catherine Bellis v Tatjana Maria
Kirsten Flipkens v 20.Karolina Muchova
26.Danielle Collins v Vitalia Diatchenko
Yulia Putintseva v Su-Wei Hsieh
Qualifier v Misaki Doi
Jennifer Brady v 4.Simona Halep
QUARTER FOUR
5.Elina Svitolina v Katie Boulter
Lauren Davis v Qualifier
Garbine Muguruza v Qualifier
Ajla Tomljanovic v 31.Anastasija Sevastova
21.Amanda Anisimova v Zarina Diyas
Jasmine Paolini v Anna Blinkova
Kateryna Bondarenko v Arina Rodionova
Irina-Camelia Begu v 9.Kiki Bertens
15.Marketa Vondrousova v Svetlana Kuznetsova
Qualifier v Camila Giorgi
Kateryna Kozlova v Priscilla Hon
Qualifier v 17.Angelique Kerber
30.Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova v Nina Stojanovic
Taylor Townsend v Jessica Pegula
Laura Siegemund v CoCo Vandeweghe
Kristina Mladenovic v 2.Karolina Pliskova
Tough draw for #2 Karolina Pliskova:
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 16, 2020
R1: Mladenovic
R2: Siegemund/Vandeweghe (there's an R1 to watch)
R3: Pavlyuchenkova
R4: Vondrousova or Kerber#AusOpen
QUARTER FOUR
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsTough draw for #2 Karolina Pliskova:
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 16, 2020
R1: Mladenovic
R2: Siegemund/Vandeweghe (there's an R1 to watch)
R3: Pavlyuchenkova
R4: Vondrousova or Kerber#AusOpen
QUARTER THREE
Tough draw for fourth seed Simona Halep, she faces Jennifer Brady – who toppled Ash Barty and Maria Sharapova in the Brisbane International.
QUARTER TWO
An easier start for Sam Stosur in the opening round, where she will face a qualifier.
And round one blockbuster – Coco Gauff against Venus Williams! A rematch of last year's classic.