Australian Open draw: Iga Swiatek in round 1 against Jule Niemeier!
The world number one Iga Swiatek has to deal with Jule Niemeier at the start of the Australian Open.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Jan 12, 2023, 05:39 am
On her title mission at the Australian Open, Swiatek has to go directly against the up-and-coming Jule Niemeier (WTA No. 68) in round 1 - the 23-year-old had attracted attention last year with the Wimbledon quarter-finals. Niemeier is currently the best German player in the WTA ranking.
Germany's number 2, Tatjana Maria, has to play against a qualifier and can meet eighth-seeded Daria Kasatkina in round 2.
From an Austrian point of view, Julia Grabher is directly qualified for the AO main field for the first time. She starts off against Anett Kontaveit, number 16 of the event.
Ons Jabeur, world No. 2 and finalist at Wimbledon and the US Open, meets Tamara Zidansek. Jessica Pegula (WTA No. 3) is up against Jaquelin Cristian. In a duel between two former winners, Sofia Kenin also meets Victoria Azarenka.
Gauff vs Raducanu in Round 2?
Tamara Korpatsch (WTA No. 74) competes with ex-US Open winner Emma Raducanu, the winner could then get it to run with Cori Gauff. She starts off against Katerina Siniakova.
Also playing: Belinda Bencic vs Viktoriya Tornova, Jil Teichmann vs Harriet Dart, Maria Sakkarai vs Yue Yuan, Leylah Fernandez vs Alizé Cornet. Laura Siegemund meets Lucia Bronzetti.
Last year's finalist Danielle Collins plays against Anna Kalinskaya,