10 January 2014

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2014: Andy Murray draws Go Soeda


Three-time finalist Andy Murray will open his Australian Open campaign against Japan's Go Soeda next week.

Wimbledon champion Murray will face the 29-year-old world number 112 for the first time on Monday or Tuesday.

The 26-year-old Scot goes into the first Grand Slam of 2014 having only returned to action two weeks ago following back surgery.

British number one Laura Robson faces Belgian 18th seed Kirsten Flipkens in round one.


The British contingent in singles could yet be boosted, with Johanna Konta and Heather Watson still in qualifying.

Murray has an impressive record at Melbourne Park, having reached three of the last four finals - and it has taken eventual champion Djokovic to stop him for the last three years.

However, he said last week that it would be "unrealistic" to expect him to win the title this year so early in his comeback from surgery.

Murray has played two exhibitions and two ATP matches since Boxing Day, and he will face Lleyton Hewitt in another exhibition in Melbourne on Friday as he looks to get more time on court.

The draw has been relatively kind in the early stages, however, with fourth seed Murray up against the winner of a match between two qualifiers if he gets past Soeda.

If he can make it to week two, there is the prospect of a potential quarter-final against Roger Federer and semi-final against Rafael Nadal.

Robson, 19, has been struggling with a wrist injury but has been practising in Melbourne and is expected to be fit to face Flipkens, a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year.

Away from British interest, the pick of the first round draws is world number one Nadal up against Australian hope Bernard Tomic.

Three-time defending champion Novak Djokovic begins against Slovakian Lukas Lacko, while sixth seed Federer faces Australian wildcard James Duckworth.

The women's draw also threw up an fascinating opener for the home crowd as 17-year-old wildcard Ashleigh Barty faces the daunting challenge of taking on world number one Serena Williams.

Second seed and two-time defending champion Victora Azarenka begins against Sweden's Johanna Larsson.

The Belarusian is in the same half of the draw as third seed Maria Sharapova, who plays American Bethane Mattek-Sands.

No comments: