Melbourne, Jan 15 (IANS) Five-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic is seeded to face record Grand Slam winner Roger Federer in the semifinals of the season’s opening Grand Slam following Friday’s draw.
The 10-time Grand Slam champion from Serbia could face Japan’s seventh seed Kei Nishikori in the quarters, while Switzerland’s 17-time major winner Federer is set to meet Czech Tomas Berdych in the second quarterfinal of the top half, Xinhua news agency reported.
Top seed Djokovic won three Grand Slam titles among 11 tournament victories in a sensational 2015 season, and a win-loss record of 82-6.
British second seed Murray is drawn to meet Spanish David Ferrer in a quarterfinal in the bottom half.
Eighth seed Ferrer could face Lleyton Hewitt in the second round in the Australian great’s 20th consecutive and farewell home Grand Slam before his retirement.
Murray could have a showdown with top-ranked Australian youngster Bernard Tomic in the fourth round.
Rafael Nadal faces a potential rematch of his losing 2014 final against Swiss fourth seed Stan Wawrinka in the other quarterfinal in the bottom half.