Australian Open 2021: Opening round draw for men and women revealed

The draws have been set for Australian Open 2021 and top players face some challenging first rounds.

World No.1 Ash Barty, who is one of 10 Australian women in the draw, begins her quest against Montenegro’s Danka Kovinic.

Maddison Inglis has been pitted against defending champion Sofia Kenin in the first round, while Lizette Cabrera faces second seed Simona Halep.

The women’s singles draw also features an all-Australian showdown in the opening round, with wildcards Sam Stosur and Destanee Aiava to play.

It will be the first time in Stosur’s 19 Australian Open main draw singles appearances that she faces another Australian player.

On the men’s side, Novak Djokovic, Sascha Zverev and Dominic Thiem are in one half. Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev are in the other.

Djokovic faces Jeremy Chardy in Round 1, and potentially Frances Tiafoe in Round 2.

Nadal battles Laslo Djere in Round 1, followed by Viktor Troicki or Michael Mmoh.

Men’s Singles

Novak Djokovic v Jeremy Chardy

Grigor Dimitrov v Marin Cilic

Kei Nishikori v Pablo Carreno Busta

Denis Shapovalov v Jannik Sinner

Stefanos Tstitsipas v Gilles Simon

Kevin Anderson v Matteo Berrettini

Tennys Sandgren v Alex de Minaur

Women’s Singles

Yulia Putinseva v Sloane Stephens

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova v Naomi Osaka

Serena Williams v Laura Siegemund

Svetlana Kuznetsova v Barbora Strycova

Elise Mertens v Leylah Fernandez

Jelena Ostapenk v Karolina Muchova

Venus Williams v Kirsten Flipkens