A TANTALISING fourth round match between world number one Rafael Nadal and Nick Kyrgios, and world number one Ash Barty meeting reigning title holder, Naomi Osaka in the semi-finals highlights a bumper Australian Open following the announcement of the 2020 draw tonight. The pair have shown no love lost between Kyrgios and Nadal, and they have the chance to meet in the Round of 16. Fourth seed, Daniil Medvedev has ended up on Nadal’s half, which means rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are poised for a potential semi-final meeting.

There are no easy clashes for some of the Australians with Chris O’Connell coming up against Andrey Rublev, Alexei Popyrin meets Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Andrew Harris takes on Marco Berrettini. Experienced Australian John Millman comes up against emerging Frenchman Ugo Humbert, while Jordan Thompson (Alexander Bublik) and John-Patrick Smith (Guido Pella) are all in the third quarter. James Duckworth takes on Alijaz Bedene, while Alex Bolt has a first round date against Albert Ramos-Vinolas. Kyrgios faces Italian Lorenzo Sonego in the first round.

Tournament favourite Djokovic is going for his eighth title and has drawn a tough first round opponent in German, Jan-Lennard Struff. Other huge first round clashes include ninth seed Roberto Bautista Agut going up against countryman Feliciano Lopez, 12th seed Fabio Fognini meeting Reilly Opelka, Ivo Karlovic taking on Vasek Pospisil, Frances Tiafoe drawn against Medvedev, and Jeremy Chardy going head-to-head with David Goffin.

In the women’s draw, world number one Australian Barty has drawn a tough quarter of the draw, meeting Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko in the opening round with a third round clash with in-form 20-year-old Elena Rybakina, while Petra Kvitova (quarter finals) and Naomi Osaka (semi-finals) are on the road to the final. The second quarter of the draw is arguably the most stacked of the lot with the oldest player playing the youngest as Venus Williams (39 years-old) takes on Coco Gauff (15-years-old) in a rematch of their famous Grand Slam encounter from last year. Americans Sloane Stephens and Sofia Kenin could meet in the third round, while Serena Williams is also in the quarter.

In the second half of the draw, Belinda Bencic and Simona Halep are potential quarter final opponents, with Aryna Sabalenka and Elise Mertens in the quarter too. The match of the quarter is by far the first round clash between 19th seed Donna Vekic and former Grand Slam champion, Maria Sharapova. In the bottom quarter, Elina Svitolina and Karolina Pliskova is a potential quarter final for the ages, while Kiki Bertens could be in the way for Svitolina in the fourth round. Angelique Kerber and Amanda Anisimova are also in the quarter. Pliskova’s first round match against Kristina Mladenovic is one of the best in the entire draw.

Australians, Sam Stosur and Lizette Cabrera have both drawn qualifiers in the second quarter, and Astro Sharma will meet 28th seed, Annett Kontaveit in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Ajla Tomljanovic has a tough first-up clash with 31st seed, Anastasija Sevastova, while Arina Rodionova (Kateryna Bondarenko) and Priscilla Hon (Kateryna Kozlova) are both in the quarter as well.

ATP Potential Round of 16 clashes:

[1] Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. [27] Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP)
[23] Nick Kyrgios (AUS) v [16] Karen Khachanov (RUS)
[10] Gael Monfils (FRA) v [20] Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN)
[29] Taylor Fritz (USA) v [5] Dominic Thiem (AUT)

[4] Daniil Medvedev (RUS) vs. [28] Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA)
[19] John Isner (USA) vs. [15] Stan Wawrinka (SUI)
[11] David Goffin (BEL) vs. [17] Andrey Rublev (RUS)
[26] Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) vs. [7] Alexander Zverev (GER)

[8] Matteo Berrettini (ITA) vs. [25] Borna Coric (CRO)
[22] Guido Pella (ARG) vs. [12] Fabio Fognini (ITA)
[13] Denis Shapovalov (CAN) vs. [18] Grigor Dimitrov (BLR)
[31] Hubert Hurkacz (POL) vs. [3] Roger Federer (SUI)

[6] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) vs. [32] Milos Raonic (CAN)
[21] Benoit Paire (FRA) vs. [9] Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP)
[14] Diego Schwartzman (ARG) vs. [24] Dusan Lajovic (SRB)
[30] Daniel Evans (GBR) vs. [2] Novak Djokovic (SRB)

WTA Potential Round of 16 clashes:

[1] Ash Barty (AUS) vs. [29] Elena Rybakina (KAZ)
[18] Alison Riske (USA) vs. [13] Petra Martic (CRO)
[10] Madison Keys (USA) vs. [22] Maria Sakkari (GRE)
[25] Ekaterina Alexandrova vs. [7] Petra Kvitova (CZE)

[3] Naomi Osaka (JPN) vs. [32] Barbora Strycova (CZE)
[24] Sloane Stephens (USA) vs. [14] Sofia Kenin (USA)
[12] Johanna Konta vs. [23] Dayana Yastremska (UKR)
[27] Qiang Wang vs. [8] Serena Williams (USA)

[6] Belinda Bencic (SUI) vs. [28] Annett Kontaveit (EST)
[19] Donna Vekic (CRO) vs. [11] Aryna Sabalenka (BLR)
[16] Elise Mertens (BEL) vs. [20] Karolina Muchova (CZE)
[26] Danielle Collins (USA) vs. [4] Simona Halep (ROU)

[5] Elina Svitolina (UKR) vs. [31] Anastasija Sevastova (LAT)
[21] Amanda Anisimova (USA) vs. [9] Kiki Bertens (BEL)
[15] Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) vs. [17] Angelique Kerber (GER)
[30] Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) vs. [2] Karolina Pliskova (CZE)