Hewitt, Federer to start Open campaigns - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Hewitt, Federer to start Open campaigns

By Sam Lienert 17/01/2006 05:45:52 AM Comments (0)

Australia's top player Lleyton Hewitt and the world's best Roger Federer are starting their Australian Open campaigns.

Hewitt, who made the final last year, will be carrying the expectations of a nation after all six Australians who played their first round matches on Monday were knocked out of the tournament.

Seven Australians will take to the Melbourne Park courts on day two, including Mark Philippoussis, who faces a difficult first round clash with French 25th seed Sebastien Grosjean.

Hewitt, the No.3 seed, plays Czech Robin Vik in the last match on Rod Laver Arena.

Federer will play the first match on the same court, against lowly-ranked Uzbekistani Denis Istomin from 11am (AEDT).

The other Australians to play are Nicole Pratt, who meets fifth seed Mary Pierce, Samantha Stosur, Wayne Arthurs, Peter Luczak and Nathan Healey.

The evening schedule features the return to grand slam tennis of three-time Australian Open champion Martina Hingis.

Hingis, who last played in 2002, will have a testing first round meeting with Russian 30th seed Vera Zvonareva.

In other feature matches, British rising star Andy Murray meets talented Argentinian Juan Ignacio Chela.

The winner of that match will play the winner of the Hewitt-Vik clash in the second round.

And the question over the fitness of No.2 seed Kim Clijsters, who injured her hip last week, should be answered, when she meets South Korean Yoon Jeong Cho.

Brought to you by AAP AAP © 2024 AAP

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