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Federer, Hewitt could meet in Australian Open semifinals
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-13 11:16
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) _ Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt were placed in
the same half of the Australian Open draw on Thursday, meaning two of the
favorites for the first Grand Slam of the year could meet in the semifinals.
Roger
Federer | The top-seeded Federer will play an Asian wild card entry, Denis Istomin of
Uzbekistan, in the tournament beginning Monday while the third-seeded Hewitt,
who lost in the second round and quarterfinals of two Open warmup tournaments,
will take on Robin Vik of the Czech Republic.
Also in Federer's quarter of the draw is Tommy Haas of Germany, the former
No. 2 who beat Federer in an exhibition tournament this week. Haas opens against
the former world junior champion, Richard Gasquet of France.
Federer's quarterfinal opponent could be fifth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko of
Russia.
Second-seeded Andy Roddick and fourth-seeded David Nalbandian of Argentina,
in the same half of the draw, have both drawn qualifiers for their first-round
matches.
Top-seeded Lindsay Davenport will play Australian Casey Dellacqua in the
first round in her tough quarter of the women's draw that also features Venus
Williams and 2004 champion Justine Henin-Hardenne, meaning either one could meet
Davenport in the quarterfinals.
Former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova takes on Sandra Kloesel of Germany
in the first round while defending champion Serena Williams, also in Sharapova's
quarter and Davenport's half, has a tough opener against China's Li Na.
Martina Hingis, a three-time Australian Open singles champion on a comeback
after a three-year retirement, has drawn Vera Zvonareva of Russia, while former
champion Mary Pierce plays Nicole Pratt of Australia.
Second-seeded Kim Clijsters of Belgium, bothered by a hip injury, will face
Cho Yoon-jeong of South Korea.
The men's draw has been hit by the injury withdrawals of defending champion
Marat Safin (left knee tendinitis), 2005 French Open winner Rafael Nadal (left
foot injury) and four-time Melbourne Park singles champion Andre Agassi (left
ankle strain).
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