Australian Open draw: Wawrinka can hope for a duel with Djokovic

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Stan Wawrinka (38) can be happy with his draw at the Australian Open. The Vaudois meet Adrian Mannarino (35) at the start and can dream of a round 16 against Novak Djokovic.

Stan Wawrinka (ATP 56) has lost both of his previous meetings against the number 20 seeded Frenchman – in Miami in 2015 and in Astana in 2022 – but as an unseeded he was threatened with a much less favorable draw. He appears to have recovered well from a minor ankle injury in December and has been training intensively in Melbourne in recent days.

If Wawrinka wins against the southpaw, who at 35 is only three years younger, he could meet US Open semi-finalist Ben Shelton (21), seeded number 16, and big favorite Novak Djokovic in the third round (36) in the third round. the round of 16).

The Serbian starts against a qualifier. On the way to the 25th Grand Slam title – the eleventh in Australia – Stefanos Tsitsipas (25) and Jannik Sinner (22) were able to stand in his way in the semi-finals. However, Tsitsipas was given a difficult starting task in Matteo Berrettini (27). Holger Rune (20), newly trained by Severin Lüthi and Boris Becker, is in the bottom half of the table, together with Carlos Alcaraz (20) and Daniil Medvedev (27).

Golubic meets top 20 player

Among the women, Viktorija Golubic (WTA 90) faces number 16 in the world. Veronika Kudermetowa (26) from Russia. The 31-year-old from Zurich is not without a chance. She won her only match so far at Wimbledon in 2021, albeit on her favorite surface, grass, 11:9 in the third set – and then stormed into the quarter-finals.

The upper part of the women’s tableau is interesting. The world number 1, Iga Swiatek (22), will face the resurgent Sofia Kenin (25), the number 38, fresh out of the rankings and the 2020 Australian Open champion. In the second round, the opponent Danielle Collins (30), a finalist two years ago, or Angelique Kerber (35), winner in 2016 and became a mother last year. Two-time winner Naomi Osaka (26) meets Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia (30, WTA 20) in her comeback.

Trio in the final qualifying round

The Swiss contingent could grow significantly through qualification. While Céline Naef (18) and Jil Teichmann (26) are eliminated in the second qualifying round, Lulu Sun (22, WTA 189) advances to the final round and is one victory away from her first Grand Slam participation. Simona Waltert (23) is already in round 3.

Alexander Ritschard also has one match left to play before he reaches the main tournament. The 29-year-old from Zurich defeated internet star Jules Marie, who sensationally eliminated Benoit Paire in the opening round of qualifying, in three sets. Marc-Andrea Hüsler (27) is also fighting for a place in the final elimination round. (SDA)

Source : Blick