The Sunday Mail
Every player in the world’s top 99 except pregnant Victoria Azarenka has confirmed for the Australian Open, including Roger Federer and Serena Williams as they return from injury, organisers have said.
The all-star field for the opening Grand Slam of 2017 at Melbourne Park will see Andy Murray and Angelique Kerber start as top seeds in a sign of the changing of the guard in world tennis.
It will also be notable for six-time tournament champion Williams, who is attempting to claim her 23rd major singles title to surpass Steffi Graf and set a new record for the Open Era. On the men’s side, world No. 2 Novak Djokovic will be aiming to hoist the trophy for a record seventh time.
“We have an exceptionally strong field for Australian Open 2017, and it’s exciting to welcome two new world No. 1s, and two new top seeds in Angie (Kerber) and Andy (Murray),” said tournament director Craig Tiley.
American powerhouse Williams has been out of action since September due to a shoulder injury that hindered her throughout the year. She has signed on for the Auckland Classic in early January, along with sister Venus, as a warm-up for the Australian Open later that month.
Fellow former world No. 1 Federer has also been sidelined for knee rehabilitation after undergoing the first operation of his career on a torn meniscus in February.
He is set to play the Hopman Cup in Perth ahead of the Australian Open and renew his rivalry in Melbourne with Rafael Nadal. – Supersport.
