Former Australian Open finalists Lleyton Hewitt and Fernando Gonzalez face the battle of their Australian Open careers to determine who will contest the second round of the 2009 tournament.
In what Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley has described as “the pick of the tournament first round match-ups”, 2007 finalist Gonzalez, who won two titles in 2008, takes on 2005 finalist Hewitt, returning to Grand Slam competition following hip surgery in August.
'Gonzo' holds a 3-2 head-to-head advantage over the Australian, who was one of his victims en route to his runner-up finish two years ago.
World No.1 Rafael Nadal faces journeyman Christophe Rochus in the first round while No.2 Roger Federer, who is campaigning to equal Pete Sampras’ record 14 Grand Slam singles titles, plays Andreas Seppi with a potential second round match-up against 1997 finalist and former world No.1 Carlos Moya.
Meanwhile, pre-tournament favourite and No.4 seed Andy Murray takes on tour veteran Andrei Pavel. The Scott has a 1-0 record over the Romanian, having defeated him in the first round of the 2005 US Open.
No.3 seeded Novak Djokovic, No.7 Andy Roddick and No.9 James Blake are among six seeds in the men’s draw who will have to wait until completion of qualifying on Saturday to discover the identities of their first round opponents.
Finalists in Beijing in 2008 and in Sydney this week, Elena Dementieva and Dinara Safina, look likely to begin their Australian Open campaigns in style. No. 3 seeded Safina takes on compatriot Alla Kudryatseva, while No.4 seed Dementieva plays Kristina Barrois of Germany.
Toughest of the women’s first round matches sees No.11 seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark play 2007 quarterfinalist Shahar Peer of Israel.
Wozniacki, one of the most improved players on the women’s circuit in 2008, held match points against Serena Williams in the quarterfinals in Sydney this week and is one of the tour’s most exciting rising stars. This is Peer’s fourth appearance in Melbourne, the 21-year-old reaching the third round last year.
Having recovered from a virus that forced her to withdraw from Sydney, top seed and world No.1 Jelena Jankovic should enjoy a reasonably straightforward passage over Yvonne Meusburger, and No. 2 seed Serena Williams will be favoured against Asian Wildcard Meng Yuan.
Meanwhile Serena’s sister Venus, the tournament No. 6 seed, will have to see off 2008 improver Angelique Kerber of Germany if she is to progress to round two.
Form player and No.9 seed Agnieszka Radwanska, a quarterfinalist in Sydney this week, faces a tough first round against aspiring Ukrainian Kateryna Bondarenko, while No.16 seed Marion Bartoli and British No.2 Melanie South will have the opportunity to take care of some unfinished business in their first round match up. The pair was tied at one game-all in Sydney this week when Bartoli withdrew due to a calf injury.
Top local prospects Sam Stosur and Casey Dellacqua both face stiff first round assignments. World No.46 Stosur takes on Klara Zakopalova, while No.55 Dellacqua will attempt to overcome No. 19 seed Daniela Hantuchova, a semi-finalist here last year.
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