Entertainment : Australian Open Tennis 2009

Spiegelworld

Direct from New York City, where it has entertained thousands of Manhattan party-goers over the last three summers, Spiegelworld is landing at Australian Open 2009. Appearing for the first time in Australia, this ultra-cool carnival village will take over The Oval outside Rod Laver Arena, providing the Australian Open with an exciting festival hot-spot. At the heart of Spiegelworld is a beautiful, historic European Spiegeltent. With its opulent décor of mirrors, wooden panelling and velvet, this fully air-conditioned, intimate 300-seat venue will host a brilliant program of entertainment.

ABSINTHE

This daring circus-meets-burlesque variety performance is one of the hottest shows in New York and is heading to Australia for the first time, exclusively for Australian Open 2009. Described by The New York Times as, ‘Cirque du Soleil channelled through The Rocky Horror Picture Show’, Absinthe features weird and wonderful acts from around the world. Appearing on the intimate Spiegeltent stage will be Ukraine’s stunning contortionist Princess Anya, the muscular hand-balancing act Duo Sergio, the electrifying Anastasini Brothers with their Icarian Games from the USA, the world’s most famous conceptual burlesque artist, Julie Atlas Muz, and many others.
(Not recommended for persons under 18)

Performance Times: (75 minutes running time)
Monday 19 January – 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm
Tuesday 20 January – 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm
Wednesday 21 January – 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm
Thursday 22 January – 7:00 pm
Friday 23 January – 7:00 pm
Saturday 24 January – 7:00 pm
Sunday 25 January – 7:00 pm
Tuesday 27 January – 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm
Wednesday 28 January – 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm
Thursday 29 January – 7:00 pm
Friday 30 January – 7:00 pm
Saturday 31 January – 7:00 pm
Sunday 1 February – 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm

Price: $19.90

Tickets to Absinthe can be purchased as an add-on at the time you are purchasing your tennis tickets, or can be purchased separately at a later date. Book early as tickets are limited.

IMPORTANT NOTE: To attend a performance of Absinthe at Spiegelworld, in addition to your show ticket you must hold an Australian Open 2009 Series Package, Single Session Ticket or Ground Pass valid on the day of the concert you wish to attend.

OPEN LATE CONCERTS

Experience Australia’s most popular music artists as you’ve never seen them before, up close and up late in the intimate atmosphere of the Spiegeltent.

Price: $19.90

Performance Times (60 minutes running time)
Thursday 22 January – 9:30 pm – DIESEL
Friday 23 January – 9:30 pm – JAMES REYNE
Saturday 24 January – 9:30 pm – CLARE BOWDITCH
Sunday 25 January – 9:30 pm – TEX PERKINS
Monday 26 January – 7:00 pm – RENEE GEYER
Monday 26 January – 9:00 pm – RICHARD CLAPTON
Thursday 29 January – 9:30 pm – MARK SEYMOUR
Friday 30 January – 9:30 pm – THE AUDREYS (ACOUSTIC TRIO)
Saturday 31 January – 9:30 pm – ABBY DOBSON

Tickets to the Open Late Concerts can be purchased as an add-on at the time you are purchasing your tennis tickets, or can be purchased separately at a later date. Book early as tickets are limited.

IMPORTANT NOTE: To attend an Open Late Concert at Spiegelworld, in addition to your concert ticket you must hold an Australian Open 2009 Series Package, Single Session Ticket or Ground Pass valid on the day of the concert you wish to attend.

Tennis Family Circus
Featuring DISLOCATE

Keep the kids entertained at the tennis with this high-energy circus show in the Spiegeltent, created especially for families. Gravity-defying acrobatics, comedy and mayhem will have kids of all ages on the edge of their seats.

PRICE: Adults $19.90, Children (aged 15 and under) $9.90

Performance Times (60 minutes running time)
Monday 19 January – 3:30 pm
Tuesday 20 January – 3:30 pm
Wednesday 21 January – 3:30 pm
Thursday 22 January – 3:30 pm
Friday 23 January – 3:30 pm
Saturday 24 January – 3:30 pm
Sunday 25 January – 3:30 pm
Monday 26 January – 3:30 pm

Tickets to Tennis Elbow Family Circus can be purchased as an add-on at the time you are purchasing your tennis tickets, or can be purchased separately at a later date. Book early as tickets are limited.

IMPORTANT NOTE: To attend a performance of Tennis Family Circus at Spiegelworld, in addition to your show ticket you must hold an Australian Open 2009 Series Package, Single Session Ticket or Ground Pass valid on the day of the concert you wish to attend.

* Prices are in Australian dollars and are inclusive of GST and booking fees. Transaction fees apply to all bookings.

Entertainment : Australian Open Tennis 2009

Spiegelworld

Direct from New York City, where it has entertained thousands of Manhattan party-goers over the last three summers, Spiegelworld is landing at Australian Open 2009. Appearing for the first time in Australia, this ultra-cool carnival village will take over The Oval outside Rod Laver Arena, providing the Australian Open with an exciting festival hot-spot. At the heart of Spiegelworld is a beautiful, historic European Spiegeltent. With its opulent décor of mirrors, wooden panelling and velvet, this fully air-conditioned, intimate 300-seat venue will host a brilliant program of entertainment.

ABSINTHE

This daring circus-meets-burlesque variety performance is one of the hottest shows in New York and is heading to Australia for the first time, exclusively for Australian Open 2009. Described by The New York Times as, ‘Cirque du Soleil channelled through The Rocky Horror Picture Show’, Absinthe features weird and wonderful acts from around the world. Appearing on the intimate Spiegeltent stage will be Ukraine’s stunning contortionist Princess Anya, the muscular hand-balancing act Duo Sergio, the electrifying Anastasini Brothers with their Icarian Games from the USA, the world’s most famous conceptual burlesque artist, Julie Atlas Muz, and many others.
(Not recommended for persons under 18)

Performance Times: (75 minutes running time)
Monday 19 January – 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm
Tuesday 20 January – 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm
Wednesday 21 January – 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm
Thursday 22 January – 7:00 pm
Friday 23 January – 7:00 pm
Saturday 24 January – 7:00 pm
Sunday 25 January – 7:00 pm
Tuesday 27 January – 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm
Wednesday 28 January – 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm
Thursday 29 January – 7:00 pm
Friday 30 January – 7:00 pm
Saturday 31 January – 7:00 pm
Sunday 1 February – 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm

Price: $19.90

Tickets to Absinthe can be purchased as an add-on at the time you are purchasing your tennis tickets, or can be purchased separately at a later date. Book early as tickets are limited.

IMPORTANT NOTE: To attend a performance of Absinthe at Spiegelworld, in addition to your show ticket you must hold an Australian Open 2009 Series Package, Single Session Ticket or Ground Pass valid on the day of the concert you wish to attend.

OPEN LATE CONCERTS

Experience Australia’s most popular music artists as you’ve never seen them before, up close and up late in the intimate atmosphere of the Spiegeltent.

Price: $19.90

Performance Times (60 minutes running time)
Thursday 22 January – 9:30 pm – DIESEL
Friday 23 January – 9:30 pm – JAMES REYNE
Saturday 24 January – 9:30 pm – CLARE BOWDITCH
Sunday 25 January – 9:30 pm – TEX PERKINS
Monday 26 January – 7:00 pm – RENEE GEYER
Monday 26 January – 9:00 pm – RICHARD CLAPTON
Thursday 29 January – 9:30 pm – MARK SEYMOUR
Friday 30 January – 9:30 pm – THE AUDREYS (ACOUSTIC TRIO)
Saturday 31 January – 9:30 pm – ABBY DOBSON

Tickets to the Open Late Concerts can be purchased as an add-on at the time you are purchasing your tennis tickets, or can be purchased separately at a later date. Book early as tickets are limited.

IMPORTANT NOTE: To attend an Open Late Concert at Spiegelworld, in addition to your concert ticket you must hold an Australian Open 2009 Series Package, Single Session Ticket or Ground Pass valid on the day of the concert you wish to attend.

Tennis Family Circus
Featuring DISLOCATE

Keep the kids entertained at the tennis with this high-energy circus show in the Spiegeltent, created especially for families. Gravity-defying acrobatics, comedy and mayhem will have kids of all ages on the edge of their seats.

PRICE: Adults $19.90, Children (aged 15 and under) $9.90

Performance Times (60 minutes running time)
Monday 19 January – 3:30 pm
Tuesday 20 January – 3:30 pm
Wednesday 21 January – 3:30 pm
Thursday 22 January – 3:30 pm
Friday 23 January – 3:30 pm
Saturday 24 January – 3:30 pm
Sunday 25 January – 3:30 pm
Monday 26 January – 3:30 pm

Tickets to Tennis Elbow Family Circus can be purchased as an add-on at the time you are purchasing your tennis tickets, or can be purchased separately at a later date. Book early as tickets are limited.

IMPORTANT NOTE: To attend a performance of Tennis Family Circus at Spiegelworld, in addition to your show ticket you must hold an Australian Open 2009 Series Package, Single Session Ticket or Ground Pass valid on the day of the concert you wish to attend.

* Prices are in Australian dollars and are inclusive of GST and booking fees. Transaction fees apply to all bookings.

Prize Money : Australian Open Tennis 2009

Prize Money : Australian Open Tennis 2009

PRIZE Money for Australian Open Men’s and Women's Singles
1st Round	$19,400
2nd Round	$31,000
3rd Round	$51,000
4th Round	$88,000
Quarter finalist	$182,250
Semi finalist	$365,000
Runners-up	$1,000,000
Winners	$2,000,000

PRIZE Money for Australian Open Men's and Women's Doubles (per pair)
1st Round	$9,585
2nd Round	$17,035
3rd Round	$31,245
Quarter finalist	$55,400
Semi finalist	$112,000
Runners-up	$225,000
Winners	$450,000

PRIZE Money for Australian Open Mixed Doubles (per pair)
1st Round	$3,755
2nd Round	$7,745
Quarter finalist	$15,490
Semi finalist	$33,615
Runners-up	$67,230
Winners	$134,460

All Prize Money in Australian Dollars

Prize Money : Australian Open Tennis 2009

Prize Money : Australian Open Tennis 2009

PRIZE Money for Australian Open Men’s and Women's Singles
1st Round	$19,400
2nd Round	$31,000
3rd Round	$51,000
4th Round	$88,000
Quarter finalist	$182,250
Semi finalist	$365,000
Runners-up	$1,000,000
Winners	$2,000,000

PRIZE Money for Australian Open Men's and Women's Doubles (per pair)
1st Round	$9,585
2nd Round	$17,035
3rd Round	$31,245
Quarter finalist	$55,400
Semi finalist	$112,000
Runners-up	$225,000
Winners	$450,000

PRIZE Money for Australian Open Mixed Doubles (per pair)
1st Round	$3,755
2nd Round	$7,745
Quarter finalist	$15,490
Semi finalist	$33,615
Runners-up	$67,230
Winners	$134,460

All Prize Money in Australian Dollars

Roger Federer - Player Overview

Switzerland

Player Overview
Australian Opens Played: 9
Best Singles Performance: Winner (2004, 2006, 2007)
Best Doubles Performance: 3rd Round (2003)
Events Entered: Men's Singles

Background
Country:	Switzerland
Birth Date:	8 August 1981
Birthplace:	Basel, Switzerland
Residence:	Bottmingen, Switzerland
Height:	6 ft. 1 in. (1.85 meters)
Weight:	187 lbs. (85 kilos)
Plays:	Right
Year Turned Pro:	1998
Current 52 week rank for singles:	2
Current ATP Champions Race Position:	7
Current doubles rank:	569
High rank for singles:	1
High rank date for singles:	2 February 2004
High ATP Champions Race Position:	1
High ATP Champions Race Position Date:	7 July 2003
High rank for doubles:	24
High rank date for doubles:	9 June 2003
Career matches won:	620
Career matches lost:	150
Year to date matches won:	3
Year to date matches lost:	1
Career prize money:	$44,644,857 USD
Year to date prize money for singles:	$50,900 USD

Grand Slam Singles Results:
Year	Australian Open	Roland Garros	Wimbledon	US Open
1999	-	1ST	1ST	-
2000	3RD	4TH	1ST	3RD
2001	3RD	QF	QF	4TH
2002	4TH	1ST	1ST	4TH
2003	4TH	1ST	WON	4TH
2004	WON	3RD	WON	WON
2005	SF	SF	WON	WON
2006	WON	RUP	WON	WON
2007	WON	RUP	WON	WON
2008	SF	RUP	RUP	WON

Roger Federer - Player Overview

Switzerland

Player Overview
Australian Opens Played: 9
Best Singles Performance: Winner (2004, 2006, 2007)
Best Doubles Performance: 3rd Round (2003)
Events Entered: Men's Singles

Background
Country:	Switzerland
Birth Date:	8 August 1981
Birthplace:	Basel, Switzerland
Residence:	Bottmingen, Switzerland
Height:	6 ft. 1 in. (1.85 meters)
Weight:	187 lbs. (85 kilos)
Plays:	Right
Year Turned Pro:	1998
Current 52 week rank for singles:	2
Current ATP Champions Race Position:	7
Current doubles rank:	569
High rank for singles:	1
High rank date for singles:	2 February 2004
High ATP Champions Race Position:	1
High ATP Champions Race Position Date:	7 July 2003
High rank for doubles:	24
High rank date for doubles:	9 June 2003
Career matches won:	620
Career matches lost:	150
Year to date matches won:	3
Year to date matches lost:	1
Career prize money:	$44,644,857 USD
Year to date prize money for singles:	$50,900 USD

Grand Slam Singles Results:
Year	Australian Open	Roland Garros	Wimbledon	US Open
1999	-	1ST	1ST	-
2000	3RD	4TH	1ST	3RD
2001	3RD	QF	QF	4TH
2002	4TH	1ST	1ST	4TH
2003	4TH	1ST	WON	4TH
2004	WON	3RD	WON	WON
2005	SF	SF	WON	WON
2006	WON	RUP	WON	WON
2007	WON	RUP	WON	WON
2008	SF	RUP	RUP	WON

Australian open tennis Seeded Players

Men Seed Player Name Opponent Round
1	Rafael Nadal	vs.	Christophe Rochus	RND 1
2	Roger Federer	vs.	Andreas Seppi	RND 1
3	Novak Djokovic	vs.	Andrea Stoppini	RND 1
4	Andy Murray	vs.	Andrei Pavel	RND 1
5	Jo-Wilfried Tsonga	vs.	Juan Monaco	RND 1
6	Gilles Simon	vs.	Pablo Andujar	RND 1
7	Andy Roddick	vs.	Bjorn Rehnquist	RND 1
8	Juan Martin Del Potro	vs.	Mischa Zverev	RND 1
9	James Blake	vs.	Frank Dancevic	RND 1
10	David Nalbandian	vs.	Marc Gicquel	RND 1
11	David Ferrer	vs.	Denis Gremelmayr	RND 1
12	Gael Monfils	vs.	Martin Vassallo Arguello	RND 1
13	Fernando Gonzalez	vs.	Lleyton Hewitt	RND 1
14	Fernando Verdasco	vs.	Adrian Mannarino	RND 1
15	Stanislas Wawrinka	vs.	Ivo Minar	RND 1
16	Robin Soderling	vs.	Robert Kendrick	RND 1
17	Nicolas Almagro	vs.	Nicolas Massu	RND 1
18	Igor Andreev	vs.	Peter Polansky	RND 1
19	Marin Cilic	vs.	Kevin Anderson	RND 1
20	Tomas Berdych	vs.	Robby Ginepri	RND 1
21	Tommy Robredo	vs.	Bobby Reynolds	RND 1
22	Radek Stepanek	vs.	Nicolas Lapentti	RND 1
23	Mardy Fish	vs.	Samuel Groth	RND 1
24	Richard Gasquet	vs.	Diego Junqueira	RND 1
25	Ivo Karlovic	vs.	Daniel Gimeno-Traver	RND 1
26	Marat Safin	vs.	Ivan Navarro	RND 1
27	Feliciano Lopez	vs.	Gilles Muller	RND 1
28	Paul-Henri Mathieu	vs.	Jarkko Nieminen	RND 1
29	Dmitry Tursunov	vs.	Flavio Cipolla	RND 1
30	Rainer Schuettler	vs.	Dudi Sela	RND 1
31	Jurgen Melzer	vs.	Kei Nishikori	RND 1
32	Philipp Kohlschreiber	vs.	Sam Querrey	RND 1

Australian open tennis Seeded Players

Men Seed Player Name Opponent Round
1	Rafael Nadal	vs.	Christophe Rochus	RND 1
2	Roger Federer	vs.	Andreas Seppi	RND 1
3	Novak Djokovic	vs.	Andrea Stoppini	RND 1
4	Andy Murray	vs.	Andrei Pavel	RND 1
5	Jo-Wilfried Tsonga	vs.	Juan Monaco	RND 1
6	Gilles Simon	vs.	Pablo Andujar	RND 1
7	Andy Roddick	vs.	Bjorn Rehnquist	RND 1
8	Juan Martin Del Potro	vs.	Mischa Zverev	RND 1
9	James Blake	vs.	Frank Dancevic	RND 1
10	David Nalbandian	vs.	Marc Gicquel	RND 1
11	David Ferrer	vs.	Denis Gremelmayr	RND 1
12	Gael Monfils	vs.	Martin Vassallo Arguello	RND 1
13	Fernando Gonzalez	vs.	Lleyton Hewitt	RND 1
14	Fernando Verdasco	vs.	Adrian Mannarino	RND 1
15	Stanislas Wawrinka	vs.	Ivo Minar	RND 1
16	Robin Soderling	vs.	Robert Kendrick	RND 1
17	Nicolas Almagro	vs.	Nicolas Massu	RND 1
18	Igor Andreev	vs.	Peter Polansky	RND 1
19	Marin Cilic	vs.	Kevin Anderson	RND 1
20	Tomas Berdych	vs.	Robby Ginepri	RND 1
21	Tommy Robredo	vs.	Bobby Reynolds	RND 1
22	Radek Stepanek	vs.	Nicolas Lapentti	RND 1
23	Mardy Fish	vs.	Samuel Groth	RND 1
24	Richard Gasquet	vs.	Diego Junqueira	RND 1
25	Ivo Karlovic	vs.	Daniel Gimeno-Traver	RND 1
26	Marat Safin	vs.	Ivan Navarro	RND 1
27	Feliciano Lopez	vs.	Gilles Muller	RND 1
28	Paul-Henri Mathieu	vs.	Jarkko Nieminen	RND 1
29	Dmitry Tursunov	vs.	Flavio Cipolla	RND 1
30	Rainer Schuettler	vs.	Dudi Sela	RND 1
31	Jurgen Melzer	vs.	Kei Nishikori	RND 1
32	Philipp Kohlschreiber	vs.	Sam Querrey	RND 1

Hewitt v Gonzalez feature of AO draw

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.

Hewitt v Gonzalez feature of AO draw

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.

Analysis: Federer faces rocky road

If 2008 was a relatively difficult year for Roger Federer, he may find life no easier at Australian Open 2009, the first Grand Slam championship of the year.

Last year, at this time, he was still recovering from the after-effects of glandular fever. He narrowly escaped elimination in a long, draining third-round match with Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic, and lost in the semi-finals to another Serbian, Novak Djokovic, who went on to win the title.

It was a traumatic start to the year for the popular Swiss. Worse shocks were to follow, what with his French Open thrashing by Rafael Nadal, and the loss of his Wimbledon title and his No.1 ranking to the same player.

This year, Federer, winner of the Australian title in 2004, 2006 and 2007 and now seeded second behind Nadal, embarks on another rocky road at Melbourne Park.

He should beat Italian Andreas Seppi in the first round, and possibly the 41st-ranked Spaniard, Carlos Moya, in the second round. But waiting for him in the third round could be Marat Safin, the No. 26 seed.

It was the big Muscovite who stopped Federer at the 2005 Open, prevailing 9-7 in the fifth set of a torrid semi-final. Safin subsequently won the title by beating Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt in the final. Safin atoned for his defeat in the 2002 final, when he carelessly underestimated his Swedish opponent Thomas Johansson, and the 2004 final, when Federer beat him.

Safin has played many other tight matches with Federer. He seems more relaxed these days, perhaps because he plans to retire at the end of the year, and his carefree attitude may make him an even greater threat this time around.

Should Federer win this testing challenge, he would probably face fellow Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka, seeded 15th, or the 20th-seeded Tomas Berdych, the young Czech who ousted him from the Athens Olympics in 2004.

Other brilliant young players in Federer’s quarter are Argentina’s eighth-seeded Juan Martin Del Potro and Croatia’s 19th-seeded Marin Cilic, the champion recently at Chennai.

His semi-final opponent may be either Djokovic, who has a comparatively easy draw up to the quarter-finals, or old foes Andy Roddick or David Nalbandian.

In the top half of the draw, Nadal will be trying to become the first Spaniard ever to capture the Australian crown. His draw looks easier than Federer’s, though Germany’s Tommy Haas, a three-time semi-finalist, could pose an early threat.

Another possible obstacle is the swashbuckling Fernando Gonzalez, who made the final in 2007 after beating Hewitt and Nadal, among others, and then lost to Federer. The Chilean takes plenty of risks, however, and hasn’t shown the same confidence in recent months as he did two years ago.

Nadal’s probable quarter-final opponent is sixth-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon, who produced some sizzling form in the latter part of 2008.

An equal favourite with Federer, Nadal and Djokovic is the fast-improving Andy Murray. The rangy Scot seems unaffected by the pressure of public expectations as he battles to become Britain’s first Grand Slam champion since Fred Perry won the Wimbledon and US crowns in 1936.

Murray faces strong opposition from the likes of 2008 finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (who beat him in the first round in Melbourne last year), American stalwart James Blake, and recent Brisbane finalists Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic and Fernando Verdasco of Spain.

He is expected to meet Nadal in a semi-final, with the winner facing either Federer or Djokovic in a fortnight. Murray now has an impressive head-to-head record against all except Nadal, and has beaten Federer in five of their seven meetings, including the last three in succession.

Alan Trengove has covered around 130 Grand Slam tournaments as a reporter and feature writer, and covered his first Australian championships in 1953

Analysis: Federer faces rocky road

If 2008 was a relatively difficult year for Roger Federer, he may find life no easier at Australian Open 2009, the first Grand Slam championship of the year.

Last year, at this time, he was still recovering from the after-effects of glandular fever. He narrowly escaped elimination in a long, draining third-round match with Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic, and lost in the semi-finals to another Serbian, Novak Djokovic, who went on to win the title.

It was a traumatic start to the year for the popular Swiss. Worse shocks were to follow, what with his French Open thrashing by Rafael Nadal, and the loss of his Wimbledon title and his No.1 ranking to the same player.

This year, Federer, winner of the Australian title in 2004, 2006 and 2007 and now seeded second behind Nadal, embarks on another rocky road at Melbourne Park.

He should beat Italian Andreas Seppi in the first round, and possibly the 41st-ranked Spaniard, Carlos Moya, in the second round. But waiting for him in the third round could be Marat Safin, the No. 26 seed.

It was the big Muscovite who stopped Federer at the 2005 Open, prevailing 9-7 in the fifth set of a torrid semi-final. Safin subsequently won the title by beating Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt in the final. Safin atoned for his defeat in the 2002 final, when he carelessly underestimated his Swedish opponent Thomas Johansson, and the 2004 final, when Federer beat him.

Safin has played many other tight matches with Federer. He seems more relaxed these days, perhaps because he plans to retire at the end of the year, and his carefree attitude may make him an even greater threat this time around.

Should Federer win this testing challenge, he would probably face fellow Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka, seeded 15th, or the 20th-seeded Tomas Berdych, the young Czech who ousted him from the Athens Olympics in 2004.

Other brilliant young players in Federer’s quarter are Argentina’s eighth-seeded Juan Martin Del Potro and Croatia’s 19th-seeded Marin Cilic, the champion recently at Chennai.

His semi-final opponent may be either Djokovic, who has a comparatively easy draw up to the quarter-finals, or old foes Andy Roddick or David Nalbandian.

In the top half of the draw, Nadal will be trying to become the first Spaniard ever to capture the Australian crown. His draw looks easier than Federer’s, though Germany’s Tommy Haas, a three-time semi-finalist, could pose an early threat.

Another possible obstacle is the swashbuckling Fernando Gonzalez, who made the final in 2007 after beating Hewitt and Nadal, among others, and then lost to Federer. The Chilean takes plenty of risks, however, and hasn’t shown the same confidence in recent months as he did two years ago.

Nadal’s probable quarter-final opponent is sixth-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon, who produced some sizzling form in the latter part of 2008.

An equal favourite with Federer, Nadal and Djokovic is the fast-improving Andy Murray. The rangy Scot seems unaffected by the pressure of public expectations as he battles to become Britain’s first Grand Slam champion since Fred Perry won the Wimbledon and US crowns in 1936.

Murray faces strong opposition from the likes of 2008 finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (who beat him in the first round in Melbourne last year), American stalwart James Blake, and recent Brisbane finalists Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic and Fernando Verdasco of Spain.

He is expected to meet Nadal in a semi-final, with the winner facing either Federer or Djokovic in a fortnight. Murray now has an impressive head-to-head record against all except Nadal, and has beaten Federer in five of their seven meetings, including the last three in succession.

Alan Trengove has covered around 130 Grand Slam tournaments as a reporter and feature writer, and covered his first Australian championships in 1953