Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Caroline Wozniacki today find themselves in a busy top half of the Brisbane International 2014 draw, which was held today at Westfield Carindale.
If Williams is to defend her 2013 title she could find herself playing Wozniacki in the quarters, Sharapova in the semis and second seed Victoria Azarenka in the final – that is if matches go according to seeding.
Azarenka’s path to the final appears far less fraught – a potential quarterfinal match with seventh seed Sabine Lisicki followed by a semifinal versus Jelena Jankovic a far preferable path to Saturday’s championship match.
Williams and Azarenka, the top two seeds respectively have both received a bye into the second round. Aussie favourite Casey Dellacqua, who assisted with the draw ceremony, could find herself playing Azarenka in the second round, but first she must find her way past Galina Voskoboeva.
Women’s third seed Maria Sharapova drew Caroline Garcia in the first round, while Wozniacki, who has played in Brisbane just once in 2012 when she was upset in the first round, will face Dominika Cibulkova, who she has defeated nine of the 12 times they have played.
The women’s top half also features 2012 champion Kaia Kanepi and former Brisbane finalists Andrea Petkovic and Daniela Hantuchova. Kanepi and Hantuchova will both face qualifiers first up, while Petkovic will take on the colourful Bethanie Mattek-Sands.
> Brisbane International 2014 tickets are on sale now through Ticketek
Fourth seed Jelena Jankovic faces a potentially difficult opening round match with French Open 2010 champion Francesca Schiavone.
Rising American Madison Keys will play Stefanie Voegele and should she win that, will face either seventh seed Sabine Lisicki or Magdalena Rybarikova.
For the Australians, Olivia Rogowska will play Japanese veteran Kimiko Date-Drumm, while fifth seed Angelique Kerber has been handed a tricky assignment in the shape of young Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic in what looms as an intriguing match.