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David Goffin (ATP 53) will play in the first round of the Australian Open against French qualifier Laurent Lokoli (ATP 176). It will be the first duel between the 32-year-old from Liège and the 28-year-old Frenchman. If Goffin clears that hurdle, Germany’s twelfth seed Alexander Zverev (ATP 13) may be waiting.
Bron: BELGIAN
Zizou Bergs (ATP 131) is the second Belgian man on the main draw in Melbourne. He secured a ticket through the qualifications and will meet 27-year-old Serbian Laslo Djere (ATP 70). He defeated the 23-year-old Bergs in 2021 in Gstaad, Switzerland, in their only previous meeting (6-2, 4-6, 6-2), albeit on clay.
The Spanish defending champion Rafael Nadal (ATP 2) is the first seed. He starts against the Briton Jack Draper (ATP 40). Nine-time winner Novak Djokovic (ATP 5) is seeded fourth in the other half of the table. The Serbian opens against the Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena (ATP 75).
Four Belgian women take part in the first grand slam tournament of the season. Belgium’s number 1 Elise Mertens (WTA 27), the 26th seed, did not make it and will face Spain’s Garbine Muguruza (WTA 58). The former world number 1 and two-time grand slam champion, finalist in Australia in 2020, defeated the Limburger in their two previous confrontations, in 2016 at the US Open and 2021 in Dubai.
Alison Van Uytvanck (WTA 70) will be presented with the Czech two-time Wimbledon laureate Petra Kvitova (WTA 16), the fifteenth seed. In the mutual duels it is 1-1. Van Uytvanck won their last meeting, in 2021 at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
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Maryna Zanevska (WTA 87) will face Russian ninth seed Veronika Kudermetova (WTA 9) in the first round. They won their two previous matches, including one at last year’s US Open. Ysaline Bonaventure (WTA 92) plays in her first round against the Russian nineteenth seed Ekaterina Alexandrova (WTA 20). In 2019, the Russian won from Liège in Rosmalen.
Australia’s Ashleigh Barty won the tournament last year but has now put an end to her career (and is pregnant). The Polish Iga Swiatek (WTA 1) is the first seed and starts against the German Jule Niemeier (WTA 68).