Stars align for Serena and Naomi but Kerber first champion sent packing

Ash Barty will return to major tennis on Tuesday night on Rod Laver Arena but the Australian champion is understandably wary of any rival she might face in Melbourne

Serena Williams wearing an outfit that pays tribute to Olympic champion Florence Griffith-Joyner Picture: Michael Klein

What’s with the obsession regarding a draw?

Ash Barty, who plays her opening round Australian Open match on Tuesday night, is among those bewildered by what some read into them.

For hardcore tennis fans, there is a fascination whenever the draw drops for each major.

The dissection is almost immediate. The analysts have sharper reflexes than one needs to return a Serena Williams serve.

Who has the soft section? What about the draw of death? And where are the dangerous floaters?

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It can be fun predicting brackets. And it adds an element of interest for supporters, which is scarcely a bad thing for a sport.

But those actually in the draw scarcely buy into it, a point made by the Australian champion on Sunday, with good reason. It might trip them up in an event that runs for a fortnight.

The world No 1, who starts her Australian Open campaign against Danka Kovinic on Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday night, was asked about the degrees of difficulty in the draw.

The bottom half of the women’s event, which began on Monday, is considered loaded with talent.

It features a number of leading contenders including Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams, Simona Halep, Bianca Andreescu and the most recent major winner Iga Swiatek.

In contrast there are only two grand slam winners in Barty’s half in Sofia Kenin, the reigning Australian Open champion, and a dual-winner in Melbourne in Victoria Azarenka.

But as Barty said, trying to predict a draw or plot a path to success is fraught with danger.

“I feel exactly as the other 127 girls that are playing. We’re all in the same draw,” she said.

“I think when the draw predictions are done, I don’t think one’s ever come true in the entirety of tennis. We’ll just see how the draw pans out.”

Judging by the early action on Monday, Barty’s assessment is entirely accurate.

Osaka, the favourite for the tournament, was said to have landed a draw of death when it was unveiled on Friday.

Yet when you are as good as the Japanese star, even the most talented rival can be rendered first round fodder.

The three-time major champion pulverised Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, three times a quarterfinalist in Melbourne, 6-1 6-2 in 68 minutes. So much for a tough one.

Naomi Osaka made quick work of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova Picture: Getty Images

“I feel like for me the most recent memory I have of playing her was in the Osaka final, so it’s always really hard to play someone that good in the first round,” she said.

“For me, I feel like it might have also helped in a way, because I calmed my nerves, because I felt like I couldn’t afford to be that nervous.”

Serena Williams followed Osaka on to Rod Laver Arena against Laura Siegemund as her elder sister Venus Williams notched a win aged 40 over Kirsten Flipkens.

Williams wore a suit inspired by American sprinting great Florence Griffith Joyner, who was younger than the tennis legend is now when she died in 1998.

The 23-time major champion, who claimed her first grand slam title the following year, zipped past Siegemund 6-1 6-1 with the same sizzle with which FloJo once burned up the track.

“I was inspired by FloJo, who was a wonderful track athlete, amazing athlete when I was growing up,” she said.

“Watching her fashion, just always changing, her outfits were always amazing. This year we thought, ‘What can we do to keep elevating the Serena Williams on the court?’”

But what happened on Margaret Court Arena is indicative of why Barty is exercising extreme caution despite her brilliant lead-in form which culminated in the Queenslander claiming her ninth WTA Tour title on Sunday.

Angelique Kerber has won majors everywhere bar Paris. But the German was on the verge of an embarrassing whipping when dropping the first eight games to Bernarda Pera.

Kerber, who served strict quarantine, was still beaten 6-0 6-4 by the American, whose highest ranking is 59, in the first true upset of the Australian Open.

It is the type of result that explains why Barty will be particularly focused on the strengths and weaknesses of Kovinic when working with coach Craig Tyzzer on the practice court.

The Montenegrin has won only five of her 19 matches at major level but Barty will not be underestimating Kovinic despite the gulf in their achievements.

“We go out there and we do the research. I chat to Tyzz beforehand. We try to bring the match to my hand as quickly as possible and as often as possible,” Barty said.