American teenager Coco Gauff will face one of her idols Venus Williams in the first round of the Australian Open after the draw was made Thursday.
Gauff, 15, beat the 39-year-old Williams, a seven-time grand slam singles champion, on the opening day of Wimbledon last July to spark a mesmerizing breakthrough onto the world scene.
In the men’s draw, Swiss great Roger Federer could face defending champion Novak Djokovic in the semifinals.
Australian Open qualifying and practice has been hampered by air-quality issues from the bushfire crisis, but organizers insist they have contingencies in place and it will begin as planned in Melbourne Monday.
“There is a lot of speculation about the Australian Open not happening, or starting later,” tournament director Craig Tiley told reporters in Melbourne.
“The Australian Open is happening.”
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Serbia’s Djokovic is the defending men’s champion and is seeking a record-extending eighth Australian Open title. The 38-year-old Federer won the last of his 20 grand slams in Melbourne in 2018.
Spain’s Rafael Nadal is in the other side of the draw as he chases a second-straight grand slam title and a 20th overall to tie with the men’s record of Federer.
Serena Williams is seeded eighth as she once more attempts to nail what would be a record 24th grand slam title. The American, who won her first tournament last week since becoming a mom in 2017, has lost in the final of four of the last six grand slam tournaments.
Gauff was on schedule for a first ever match-up against Serena if she made it to the quarterfinals in Auckland last week, but she fell in the round of 16.
Women’s top seed Ashleigh Barty of Australia kicks off her quest for a second grand slam title to add to last year’s French Open crown against outsider Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine.
Defending champion Naomi Osaka, seeded three, begins her campaign against Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic.
