The 2014 Australian Open draw was released Thursday night. The draw's top half for the men's singles is stacked with heavyweights Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Juan Martin del Potro. Reigning Aussie Open champion Novak Djokovic, meanwhile, sits in the draw's bottom half with a seemingly easy path to the semifinals.
Nadal, ranked No. 1 in the World, has a difficult road to the final. He begins the quest for his second Australian Open title against No. 52 Bernard Tomic. The Spaniard could then meet No. 26 Gael Monfils in the third round, No. 5 del Potro in the quarterfinals and No. 4 Murray, No. 6 Federer or No. 10 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the semifinals.
Murray meets No. 112 Go Soeda in the opening round. The Scot could play against No. 14 John Isner in the round of 16 and then either Tsonga or Federer in quarterfinals.
Novak, by contrast, has an easier path to his fifth Australian Open trophy. Novak, ranked No. 2 in the World, begins his campaign in Melbourne against No. 90 Lukas Lacko. The Serb's next challenge, arguably, wouldn't come until the quarterfinals, where he could face No. 8 Stanislas Wawrinka or No. 9 Richard Gasquet
No. 3 David Ferrer, No. 7 Tomas Berdych or No. 12 Tommy Haas could meet Djokovic in the semifinals.
View the full men's singles draw HERE.
In the women's singles, No. 1 Serena Williams starts her bid for her fifth Aussie title against No. 153 Ashleigh Barty. No. 7 Sara Errani could meet Williams in the quarterfinals; No. 4 Na Li or No. 15 Sabine Lisicki could await Williams in the semifinals.
No. 2 Victoria Azarenka headlines the bottom half of the women's singles draw. She could face No. 13 Sloane Stephens in the round of 16, No. 5 Agnieszka Radwanska in the quarterfinals and No. 3 Maria Sharapova in the semifinals.
Williams could meet Sharapova in the women's singles final.
View the full women's singles draw HERE.
