Australian Open 2013 - The draw is out!

Australian Open 2013 - The draw is out!

After reigning champions Novak Djokovic and Victoria Azarenka brought along the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup and Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup the main draws were announced in Melbourne a few minutes ago for the 2013 Australian Open. Here are some initial thoughts.

WOMEN'S SINGLES

The big news is that five-time champion Serena Williams is in the same half of the draw as Victoria Azarenka  - the Brisbane semi-final that never was could be a blockbuster last four clash. Last year's finalist Maria Sharapova and Agnieszka Radwanska could meet in the other semi-final.  Sharapova and Venus Williams could have a monster hard hitting clash in round three.

First round matches of note:

Caroline Wozniacki (10) vs Sabine Lisicki - if the German's huge forehand is on she can take this blockbuster first round meeting.

Petra Kvitova (8) vs Francesca Schiavone - a battle between two former Grand Slam winners could be a good contest.

Venus Williams (25) vs Galina Voskoboeva - this will be a testing first match for the 2003 finalist against the big hitting Kazakh.

MEN'S SINGLES

The main news is that No.3 seed Andy Murray is in four-time champion Roger Federer's half of the draw. Not the best news for the Swiss.  Novak Djokovic could face fourth seed David Ferrer in the last four.

First round matches of note:

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (7) vs Michael Llodra - an exciting all French clash full of flair will be one to watch in round one.

Janko Tipsarevic (8) vs Lleyton Hewitt - this will be a big show court clash in what will be Hewitt's 17th, and surely final, Australian Open.

Alexandr Dolgopolov (18) vs Gael Monfils - a match between two of the most exciting players on tour could be electrifying although the Frenchman is still on the comeback trail.

Novak Djokovic (1) vs Paul-Henri Mathieu - not the easiest first round for the defending champ against the experienced Frenchman who showed at last year's French Open that he can still rise for big matches.

Julien Benneteau (32) vs Grigor Dimitrov - I think this could be a thriller, and potential upset, between the veteran Frenchman and Bulgarian rising star. 

MY WISHLIST

I went through my hopes for the draw here here - but here is what happened:

My wish to have US Open champ Murray in Djokovic's half of the draw did not come true.  Before Roger and Andy could face Roger has Jo-Wilfried Tsonga as his projected quarter final opponent with Milos Raonic the seed he's due to face in the last sixteen before that. 

Kimiko Date Krumm vs Nadia Petrova (12) - not a good draw for the Japanese veteran but she has beaten Nadia since making her '08 comeback.

Mirjana Lucic-Baroni vs Lucie Safarova (17) - again not a kind draw for Mirjana.  Both players can be hit and miss. There will be winners, and there will be a number of errors! 

Heather Watson vs Alexandra Cadantu - not the worst first round draw for the British No.1 against the Romanian but in form German Mona Barthel lurks in round two. 

Laura Robson vs Melanie Oudin - the Brit can take this and could then clash with eighth seed Kvitova second round.

Now we've got the draw I'll be doing some result predictions soon.