Serena Williams will kick-off her Australian Open title defence against Italian world No.35 Camila Giorgi.
The opening match will be a tricky encounter for the world No.1 against the Italian, who only missed out on a seeding by one place. Williams has played Giorgi twice before, winning both encounters in straight sets. Their last meeting was in the Feb Cup last year. Despite having a strong 2-0 head-to-head lead, Williams will be weary of the threat Giorgi could pose. Last Year the Italian defeated Belinda Bencic to claim her first WTA title at the Topshelf Open. In Williams quarter she faces a second round clash against either Hsieh Su-Wei or Latvian teenager Jelena Ostapenko. The top seed could then face Anna Karolína Schmiedlová in the third round followed by a fourth round meeting with close friend Caroline Wozniacki. The world No.1 was at the draw ceremony, where she spoke positively about her recent knee injury.
“Everything’s really well. I’m feeling good. I’m excited about it. I’m ready now.” The world No.1 said.
Maria Sharapova will begin her quest for Australian Open glory against Japan’s Nao Hibino. Hibino reached the quarterfinals at the ASB Classic last week before losing to Julia Goerges. Sharapova is on course to face a potentially tricky encounter against 26th seed Antasia Pavlychenkova. The fifth seed currently leads the head-to-head 3-1. If proceedings go to plan Sharapova will then clash with Belinda Bencic for a place in the last eight. In the last eight Sharapova could face top seed Williams, a player who she has lost to 18 consecutive times.
Simona Halep will play a yet to be decided qualifier in her first round match. The Romanian could then face a daunting second round encounter against France’s Aliza Cornet, a player who she lost to last year at the Madrid Open. The world No.2 is then on course to play 31st seed Lesia Tsurenko followed by either Ana Ivanovic or Madison Keys.
Agnieszka Radwanska is on course for a mouth watering second round clash against Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard. Prior to the Clash Radwanska must overcome Christina McHale whilst Bouchard must defeat Serbia’s Aleksandra Krunic. Radwanska has beaten the Canadian twice in 2014. The fourth seed could also play home favorite Sam Stosur followed by last year’s US Open runner-up Sara Errani before she progresses to the last eight.
Garbine Muguruza will face Estonian player Anett Kontaveit in her first match. After receiving a generous draws for the first couple rounds, the Wimbledon finalist faces a fourth round meeting with two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka. Azarenka, who recently won the Brisbane International, will open up her campaign against Belgium’s Alison Van Uytvanck.
If the tournament goes according to plan, the quarterfinals of the tournament could be the following:-
Serena Serena vs. Maria Sharapova
Agnieszka Radwanska vs. Petra Kvitova
Angelique Kerber vs. Garbine Muguruza
Venus Williams vs. Simona Halep
The Full Draw
