• Australian Open

Tricky first-round ties for top seeds as Murray waits

Roger Federer has won the Australian Open three times © Getty Images

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Roger Federer has been handed a tough first-round draw at the Australian Open, while second seed Rafael Nadal will have to get past the potential banana skin of Australian No.2 Peter Luczak.

Nadal has been drawn against the high-flying Luczak, who beat second seed Tomas Berdych at the Sydney Open. While the world No.78 will be the clear underdog, he will have the support of a home crowd at Melbourne Park , and has vowed to give it everything. "I've just got to give it everything," he said. "I have got nothing to lose. I have to go for my shots, and if it comes off then that would be great."

Federer must play world No.36 Igor Andreev, who took the world number one to five sets at the 2008 US Open. Third seed Novak Djokovic faces Daniel Gimeno-Traver, and providing Juan Martin Del Potro recovers from a wrist injury in time, he will meet American Michael Russell. Andy Murray, seeded fifth in Melbourne, will have to wait to see who he will play first after drawing a qualifier. However, it will not be an easy route to the final for Murray, who is looking to win his first Grand Slam title, with a potential quarter-final clash against Nadal and US Open champion del Potro up in the semis.

In the women's draw, 2004 champion Justine Henin makes her Grand Slam comeback after nearly two years in retirement. It will be an all-Belgian affair as she faces Kirsten Flipkens first up, but could come up against world No.5 Elena Dementieva in the second round.

US Open champion Kim Clijsters has drawn a qualifier, while top seed Serena Williams faces Urszula Radwanska of Poland. British hopes rest with Katie O'Brien, who has will meet Australian Patricia Mayr, and Elena Baltachais up against France's Pauline Parmentier.

However, it was not to be for Britain's Laura Robson, who lost 6-4 7-6(9-7) to Michaella Krajicekin the second round of qualifying. She will now compete in the junior draw. Britain's Naomi Cavaday and Daniel Evans also failed to qualify for the main draw.

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