Federer and Murray on Same Side of Australian Open Draw

The first Slam of the year will have Federer and Murray on the same side; Ferrer and Djokovic on the other.

By Chris Oddo

(January 10, 2013) -- Second-seeded Roger Federer and third-seeded Andy Murray were drawn in the same half of the draw today at a ceremony on the banks of the Yarra river in Melbourne.

Federer, a four-time Australian Open champion, defeated Murray in the finals in Melbourne in 2010.

Murray, a two-time finalist at the event, lost in the semifinals to Novak Djokovic in five sets in the semifinals last year. He is playing in his first Grand Slam since his maiden triumph at U.S. Open in 2012.

Murray will face Robin Haase in the first round. He would face Juan Martin del Potro in the quarterfinals if the seeds hold.

Federer will face World No. 43 Benoit Paire of France in the first round. He could face Nikolay Davyenko in round two, and Bernard Tomic and Milos Raonic in rounds three and four.

Federer's possible quarterfinal match-up would be Jo-Wilfried Tsonga if the seeds hold.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic would face Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals and fifth-seeded David Ferrer of Spain in the semifinals if the seeds hold.

The singles main draw begins on January 14 in Melbourne.

Browse: The entire men's singles draw is available at the Australian Open website.

(Photo Credit: AFP/Patrick Kovarik)