Back to Federer-Dimitrov SF on cards, Stosur draws Lepchenko

Federer-Dimitrov SF on cards, Stosur draws Lepchenko

3 January 2015, by Ethan James

UPDATE: Top seed Roger Federer could face local wildcard John Millman in the second round of Brisbane International 2015, while defending champion Lleyton Hewitt has an encounter with countryman Sam Groth first up.

Millman, who meets a qualifier in the opening round, made headlines when he pushed then world No.3 Andy Murray to three sets at his home tournament on Pat Rafter Arena two years ago before battling with injury for most of 2014.

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For Federer, a potential quarterfinal showdown with Frenchman Gilles Simon looms ahead of a semifinal clash with Grigor Dimitrov – the man tipped by many to break through for a maiden Grand Slam victory in 2015.

The Swiss veteran – along with top-four seeds Kei Nishikori, Milos Raonic and Grigor Dimitrov –  received opening round byes.

Meanwhile, Hewitt, who toppled Federer to claim the title last year, begins his Australian summer against the big-serving Victorian Groth.

A second round match with South African fifth seed Kevin Anderson is then on the cards ahead of a potential quarterfinal against the booming serve of Raonic.

World No. 56 Bernard Tomic has drawn big-hitting American Sam Querrey, while Australian wildcards Thanasi Kokkinakis and James Duckworth will line up against French sixth seed Julien Benneteau and Simon, respectively.

Japan’s highest-ranked player and second seed Kei Nishikori plays either American Steve Johnson or Australian Marinko Matosevic in the second round.

In the women’s draw, world no.22 Sam Stosur plays world no. 35 Vavara Lepchenko in the opening match, while countrywoman Jarmila Gajdosova meets China’s Zhang Shaui, placed nine places higher than the 71-ranked Aussie.

Provided she progresses past her opening battle, Stosur is in line for a meeting with Slovakian pocket rocket and fourth seed Dominika Cibulkova in the second round.

An unseeded Victoria Azarenka could pose troubles for many in the bottom half of the draw, with the inaugural Brisbane International champion placed in the same quarter of the draw as Stosur.

Azarenka meets talented young American Madison Keys in her opener.

Croatian-born Brisbane resident Alja Tomljanovic received the toughest draw of the local hopes, forced to face Serbian former world No.1 Jelena Jankovic.

Women’s top seed Maria Sharapova will likely play big-serving German Sabine Lisicki, who drew a qualifier, in her opening match after a first-round bye, while second seed Ivanovic – entering the tournament on the back of a successful 2014 where she netted five titles – plays the winner of Gajdosova and Zhang in the second round.

The 2012 Brisbane champion and power-hitter Kaia Kanepi plays German sixth seed Andrea Petkovic in an intriguing first round match-up.