SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER!
 
 
Facebook Social Button Twitter Social Button Follow Us on InstagramYouTube Social Button
front
NewsScoresRankingsLucky Letcord PodcastShopPro GearPickleballGear Sale

Popular This Week

Net Notes - A Tennis Now Blog

Net Posts

Industry Insider - A Tennis Now Blog

Industry Insider

Second Serve - A Tennis Now Blog

Second Serve

 



Serena Williams will face the highest-ranked unseeded player in the women’s singles draw in the first round of this year’s Australian Open, the draw ceremony revealed today.

See the Complete Australian Open Women's Singles Draw Here

Williams, a six-time champion in Melbourne and the top seed, will face Italy’s Camila Giorgi. Though Williams owns a 2-0 career edge over Giorgi, the 21-time major champion would be excused for wishing to face a player from a country other than Italy. The Italians stole the show from Williams at the 2015 U.S. Open when Roberta Vinci ended Williams quest for the calendar Slam in the semifinals, then gave way to fellow Italian Flavia Pennetta in the final.

Pennetta has since retired, while Vinci, seeded 13, is tucked away in the bottom half of Williams’ section.

Williams will face rising star Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in the third round, Caroline Wozniacki in the fourth round and fifth-seeded Maria Sharapova in the quarterfinals if the seeds hold.

Fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska and sixth-seeded Petra Kvitova are slated to meet in the other quarter of Serena’s half.

Second-seeded Simona Halep could face the always tricky Alize Cornet in the second round at Melbourne, and if she prevails she could face Ana Ivanovic or Madison Keys in the third round. Halep would meet eighth-seeded Venus Williams in the quarterfinals if the seeds hold.

Third-seeded Garbine Muguruza could potentially face red-hot Victoria Azarenka in the fourth round of a loaded section, and if Muguruza progresses, is slated to meet 7th-seeded Angelique Kerber in the quarters.

Here’s a look at the draw, quarter by quarter:




Posted: