Australian Open LIVE: The much awaited Australian Open 2023 draw was unveiled on Thursday, 12th January 2023. The year’s first Grand Slam event is set to kickstart from 16th January, Monday. The draw in both the Men and Women’s Singles has put in some mouthwatering clashes in the first round of the tournament itself. Check out some big match-ups in the very first round of the Grand Slam event. Follow Australia Open 2023 LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
Australian Open LIVE: DRAWS are out, TOP 5 mouthwatering 1st round clashes which no tennis fan would miss, CHECK OUT & Follow AO2023 LIVE Updates
Andy Murray vs Matteo Berrettini
One of the biggest clashes in the first round of the tournament will be the match between Andy Murray and Matteo Berrettini. Both the players recently met in the third round of the US Open just a few months ago.
Murray, a five-time finalist at the Australian Open enters the tournament this year as an unseeded player. He is currently ranked 49th in the ATP Rankings. Meanwhile, Berrettini is the 13th seed in this edition. Both the players are placed in the final quarter of the draws.
Murray only made his return to the Australian Open following his hip surgery. He couldn’t go past the second round. This year he is aiming for a much better show but faces a big challenge against Berrettini.
The World No.14 Berrettini was a semifinalist at the Australian Open last year. He also leads the head-to-head record against Murray 3-1.
Rafael Nadal vs Jack Draper
Defending champion Rafael Nadal won’t have it easy in his first round at the Australia Open this year. He will be up against an in-form 21-year old Jack Draper in the opening round.
Nadal is struggling for form as he finished 2022 by bowing out of the ATP World Tour finals in the group stages. He also recently lost both his matches at the United Cup. The defending champion is under bit of a pressure ahead of his first round contest.
Meanwhile Draper has recently made his way into the semifinals at the Adelaide International 2. He defeated third seed Karen Khachanov and eighth seed Tommy Paul in the tournament. He also made his way into the semifinal and can’t be taken lightly.
Andrey Rublev vs Dominic Thiem
Ninth seed Andrey Rublev faces former US Open champion Dominic Thiem in a blockbuster clash in the first round. Rublev is the fifth seed in the tournament and is one of the contenders for the title.
The Russian is aiming to lift his maiden Grand Slam title. He is pitted against Thiem, who is a wildcard entrant in the very first round.
Thiem won the US Open title in 2021 but missed majority of the last season owing to a injury on his right hand. He has slipped down to 99th spot in the rankings. The Austrian is looking to climb his way back up the ladder in the rankings.
Both the players have faced each other six times so far. Rublev leads the head-to-head record 4-2. He has infact won his last fours successive matches against Thiem. They last met at the Gijon Open Semifinals in 2022.
Victoria Azarenka vs Sofia Kenin
In the Women’s Singles draw, only Victoria Azarenka and Sofia Kenin are former champions. But only one among them will be able to get into the second round of the tournament as they are drawn against each other in the first round. While, Azarenka enters as the 24th seed, Kenin is unseeded.
33-year old Azarenka hasn’t been at her best of form over the last few seasons. The Belarusian last made it to the quarterfinal of any Grand Slam event way back in 2016. At the season-opening Grand Slam event last year, she made it to the fourth round.
Meanwhile, Sofia Kenin won the Australian Open title in 2020. She has however failed to go past the second round in the next two seasons. She looks to make a good comeback this year.
Elise Mertens vs Garbine Muguruza
Garbine Muguruza former French Open and Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza has to surmount a tough challenge from Germany’s Elise Mertens in the first round of the Australia Open.
Muguruza enters the tournament as the unseeded player. Her World ranking has slid down to No.58. The 29-year old wants to improve her rankings this year and start the season on a positive note. Meanwhile, Elise Mertens is currently ranked 27th. She will be the 26th seed in the tournament.
Australian Open LIVE: DRAWS are out, TOP 5 mouthwatering 1st round clashes which no tennis fan would miss, CHECK OUT & Follow AO2023 LIVE Updates
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