Schiavone Grand Slam streak 0f 61 straight ends in Melbourne

The draw for the 2016 Australian Open was released on Friday morning in Melbourne (Thursday evening in North America).

Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams will defend the men’s and women’s titles in the 104th Open, the first Grand Slam of the calendar year.

Picking up where he left off after a blistering 2015, Djokovic destroyed Rafael Nadal in last week’s Qatar Open final, in a performance the Spaniard called “stratospheric”.

“I played against a player who did everything flawless”. Tursunov has his share of ATP titles from years gone by, but he has never been much of a Grand Slam player.

Wawrinka, who upset Djokovic in last year’s French Open final for his second major win, opens against Russia’s Dmitry Tursunov, while Nadal meets Spanish compatriot Fernando Verdasco.

Tomic, a talented player of questionable temperament, will provide a sterner test ahead of the business end of the tournament but, for all his quality, the 23-year-old has only once made a Grand Slam quarter-final and that was back in 2011.

Avoiding Roger Federer, who landed in the same half as top seed Novak Djokovic, until the final is a bonus for Murray but he faces a potential banana-skin in the fourth round against big-serving Australian Bernard Tomic. The Grand Slam king reached the semifinals or better for 11 straight years in Oz. “That means going there earlier, and becoming used to those conditions so that I can get the best out of myself”.

Andy Murray will face German teenager Alexander Zverev in the first round of the Australian Open.

“Using technology is where we are also looking year on year to keep enhancing”, she said. “Final of every tournament bar one”.

Since his 2009 title victory over Roger Federer Nadal’s quest has often been thwarted by injury.

Four-time finalist Murray has been to the most Melbourne finals without raising the trophy.

“My number one goal is to try and win here”. He finished his career with seven, the same total as John McEnroe and one more than Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker.

Olympic champion Murray has been named as second seed with the former Wimbledon and US Open victor searching for a first title in Australia after being beaten in the final on four occasions.

Djokovic, the dominant Serbian who is a five-time champion at Melbourne Park, will meet up-and-coming South Korean Chung Hyeon.

The quirky Belarusian could be the most likely contender to upset Williams’ Grand Slam dominance.

Last 5 Australian Opens: ’15-4th, ’14-4th, ’13-2nd, ’12-DNP, ’11-DNP.

“But the last two years he’s had a poor record against Federer and he’s had a poor record against Djokovic”.

In the past, Williams has overcome injuries and a life-threatening illness to amass 21 grand slam singles titles. “I’m feeling really well and I’m excited about (the tournament)”. Andy Murray is also touted as a threat to Djokovic’s bid for a sixth Australian Open crown, but his wife is expecting their first child and fatigue are both question marks for him.