Comfortable Australian Open starts for Nadal, Williams

World number one Rafael Nal will take on Bolivian Hugo Dellien in Australian Open first-round next week while Serena Williams faces Anastasia Potapova in her quest for a 24th Grand Slam title. Spaniard is attempting to match Roger Federer's record 20 Grand Slam singles titles on his least favorite surface, having won in Melbourne just once, back in 2009. Australian Nick Kyrgios could be waiting for him in fourth round, draw revealed Thursday.

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Defending champion vak Djokovic will start his bid to lift a record eighth Australian Open title against Jan-Lennard Struff. Serb h a fine 2019, winning five titles including at Melbourne Park and Wimbledon on way to ending year as number two, behind only Nal. Fresh from helping his country win ATP Cup, he will start his drive to extend his incredible Melbourne run -- he holds a 68-8 record -- against a German who crashed at first hurdle last year.

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Djokovic could meet Greek young gun Stefas Tsitsipas in last eight. less Federer, 38, is up against American Steve Johnson in third quarter of men's draw as he targets a seventh Australian Open title, winning his last in 2018. Williams, who is seeking to match Australian Margaret Court's record 24 major singles titles, gets underway against 90th ranked Russian Potapova with a potential quarter-final against defending champion Naomi Osaka.

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Seeded eight, she hes into tournament on back of ending a three-year title drought by winning Auckland Classic. She is gunning for an eighth Australian crown and her first Slam title since Melbourne in 2017. Her sister Venus has a blockbuster first-round clash against exciting young American Coco Gauff, with winner potentially facing Osaka in third round. Third seed Osaka starts her title defence against Marie Bouzkova.

World number one Ashleigh Barty opens against Ukraine's Lesia Tsurenko, with French Open champion on a collision course with last year's finalist Petra Kvitova in last eight. Fourth seed Simona Halep has a tough opening task against Jennifer Bry, who beat Barty and Maria Sharapova at Brisbane International. Second seed Karolina Pliskova takes on Kristina Mlevic.

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