Seeded locals Samantha Stosur and Daria Gavrilova have landed in the same quarter of the Australian Open draw at Melbourne Park.
But Australia’s top two women’s hopes will be doing well to reach the second week, let alone clash for a semi-final berth, after being handed a rugged path through the opening rounds.
Stosur, the tournament’s 18th seed who has ventured to the last 16 just twice in 14 previous attempts, faces Heather Watson first up, while 22nd seed Gavrilova also meets a Brit in Naomi Broady.
Gavrilova has been presented the best chance to make a run, but fourth-seeded US Open runner-up Karolina Pliskova shapes as a formidable obstacle in round four.
Victory over Broady, the world No.95, would likely set up a second-round meeting with Kristina Mladenovic, the Frenchwoman Gavrilova beat in the last 32 in 2016.
With her sorry record at her home slam, Stosur won’t be looking beyond the 75th-ranked Watson, but Australia’s former US Open champion could strike third seed Agnieszka Radwanska if she makes the fourth round for the third time.
But if Stosur thinks her draw was rough, she could have fared worse – just ask Serena Williams.
The six-times champion has drawn the most dangerous floater in the women’s draw, former world No.7 Belinda Bencic, the talented young Swiss on the comeback from injury.
To net a seventh crown at 35, second-seeded Williams will likely need to do it the hard way with 2015 French Open runner-up Lucie Safarova, sixth seed Dominika Cibulkova, Radwanska or Pliskova all potentially blocking the American’s path to another final showdown with world No.1 Angelique Kerber.
The German begins her title defence against Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine.
WHO AUSTRALIAN WOMEN FACE AT THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN STARTING ON MONDAY (PREFIX DENOTES SEEDING)
18-Samantha Stosur v Heather Watson (GBR)
22-Daria Gavrilova v Naomi Broady (GBR)
Arina Rodionova v 17-Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)
Ashleigh Barty v Annika Beck (GER)
Destanee Aiva v qualifier
Jaimee Fourlis v Anna Tatishvilli (USA)
Lizette Cabrera v Donna Vekic (CRO)
