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By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, January 14, 2016

 
Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic aims to claim his sixth Australian Open title and equal Roy Emerson's all-time record.

Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

The Happy Slam presents a stern start for some seeded players.

The Australian Open draw was conducted in Melbourne today setting up several fascinating opening-round clashes that pop off the page.

Video: Dimitrov's Slash & Smash

Among the intriguing first-rounders:

Top-seeded Novak Djokovic faces talented Korean teenager Hyeon Chung for the first time.

No. 2 seeded Andy Murray meets former world No. 1 and 2014 Australian Open junior champion Alexander Zverev, weeks after the Scot dissected the 18-year-old German's forehand at Hopman Cup.

In a battle of sometime doubles partners, fifth-seeded Rafael Nadal opens against Fernando Verdasco in a rematch of their rousing 2009 Australian Open semifinal epic. Verdasco has beaten Nadal in two of their last three meetings.

No. 7 seeded Kei Nishikori faces 34th-ranked Philipp Kohlschreiber for the first time in a match pitting two brilliant backhands.

No. 19 seeded Dominic Thiem takes on 35th-ranked Argentine Leonardo Mayer in a rematch of their grueling Nice final, which Thiem won to claim his maiden title last season.

A battle of ballistic serving big men pits 10th-seeded John Isner vs. the Pole-verizer Jerzy Janowicz.

World No. 1 Djokovic headlines the top half of the draw that features four-time champion Roger Federer, two-time semifinalist Tomas Berdych, former US Open finalist Nishikori, 2008 Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, ATP ace king Ivo Karlovic, 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic and volatile Aussie Nick Kyrgios.




Here's a quarter-by-quarter breakdown of the draw.

First Quarter

Launching his quest to equal Roy Emerson's record of six Australian Open titles, Djokovic could face one of only four men to beat him in 2015, the massive-serving Karlovic, or 14th-seeded Gilles Simon in the fourth round.

Former finalists Tsonga and Marcos Baghdatis are set to square off in the first round with Tsonga holding a 5-0 lead in their head-to-head series. Should Nishikori withstand Kohlschreiber in the opener, he could encounter Tsonga or the stylish, versatile Benoit Paire, who knocked Nishikori out of the US Open first round last summer, in the fourth round. Nishikori has won four of six meetings with Tsonga, including a five-set victory at the 2012 Australian Open. Tsonga gained a measure of revenge with a five-set quarterfinal conquest at the 2015 Roland Garros.

First Quarter Prediction: (1) Novak Djokovic vs. (7) Kei Nishikori


Second Quarter

Before his third-round loss to Andreas Seppi last January, Federer's presence in the second week was as certain as fireworks on Australia Day. The Grand Slam king reached the semifinals or better for 11 straight years in Oz. Six years removed from his last Melbourne final, Federer could be challenged in the third round by Grigor Dimitrov, who pushed Federer to three sets in the Brisbane quarterfinals last week. Federer has won all four career meetings with the 28th-ranked Bulgarian.

Roger Federer

Tomas Berdych has powered into successive semifinals in Melbourne. Cilic, a 2010 Australian Open semifinalist, backed up his US Open title with a trip to the final four in New York last summer. They are the leading contenders to advance to the quarterfinals here, but we'll ride with the wild one, Nick Kyrgios.

The 29th-seeded Aussie opens against Pablo Carreno Busta and could run into Berdych in the third round. Kyrgios, who was pained by a soft tissue injury in his foot this week, bears the pressure of defending quarterfinal points from last year, but possesses the explosive game and dynamic athleticism that plays well on the Grand Slam stage. Of course, Kyrgios can implode at any moment, but if he can play with discipline and minimize his emotional eruptions he has the big game, bold personality and boisterous home-crowd support to make a deep run.

Second Quarter Prediction: (3) Roger Federer vs. (29) Nick Kyrgios


Third Quarter

In their last hard-court clash, Nadal couldn't close the gap on Verdasco falling 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 in Miami last March and conceding a crisis of confidence afterward. It was Verdasco's second straight win over Nadal after suffering 13 consecutive losses. The 2009 champion is snapping his topspin forehand with more vigor and exuding more confidence on court these days. Nadal should subdue his sometime doubles partner and if he does he can navigate his section of the draw that includes big-serving Kevin Anderson and 23rd-seeded Gael Monfils.

Rafael Nadal

Fourth-seeded Stan Wawrinka owns the sledgehammer serve and jolting power off both wings that play well in Oz. The 2014 champion has reached semifinals in three of his last four Grand Slam semifinals and is the favorite to emerge from his section of the bracket.

Both 25th-seeded Jack Sock and Brisbane champion Milos Raonic could stand in Stan's way of a third straight trip to the quarters. Raonic has never beaten Wawrinka, but five of their nine sets have gone to tie breakers. The Canadian's massive serve is an imposing weapon, Milos is moving better these days and managing his backhand more effectively. If it all comes together, he has a shot to reach his second Mebourne quarterfinal.

Third Quarter Prediction: (5) Rafael Nadal vs. (13) Milos Raonic


Fourth Quarter

Four-time finalist Murray has been to the most Melbourne finals without raising the trophy. His persistence, variety, fitness and movement make Murray the man to beat in this section. The second-seeded Scot got a good look at first-round opponent Zverev in his Hopman Cup sweep that should serve him well here.

Andy Murray

The dogged David Ferrer has reached the Australian Open quarterfinals in four of the last five years, but he's working out the kinks playing with a Babolat Pure Drive racquet after spending most of his career wielding an extended Prince frame.

No. 16-seeded Aussie Bernard Tomic has vowed to crack the Top 10 this season, but Tomic does not match up well with Murray, a possible fourth-round opponent.  Neither 10th-seeded John Isner nor 18th-seeded Feliciano Lopez has ever reached the elite eight in Melbourne, but both are dangerous when landing the first serve. 

Fourth Quarter Prediction: (18) Feliciano Lopez vs. (2) Andy Murray


 

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