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2018 Australian Open draw announcement live updates, blog

11th January, 2018
Start time: 7pm (AEDT)
Venue: Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne Park
TV: Live, Seven
Online: Live, 7Tennis App, Aus Open Facebook

Draw structure
Men's and women's
- 128 players.
- 104 direct entry
- 8 wildcard
- 16 qualifiers

Men's 2016 champion: Roger Federer
Women's 2016 champion: Serena Williams (not playing)
Margare Court Arena during the 2017 Australian Open (Wikimedia Commons/DestinationAlan)
Expert
11th January, 2018
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The 2018 Australian Open is just around the corner and that means it’s time for the all-important draw to be announced. Join The Roar for live coverage from 7pm (AEDT).

The draw for both men and women consists of 128 players. The top 104 in the world are given direct entry, while eight wildcards are handed out. 16 qualifiers make up the remainder of the draw.

The top 32 players in the draw are seeded, meaning they can’t meet until the third round, while the top 16 can’t meet each other until the fourth round and so on, with the first and second seeds unable to meet until the final.

The first grand slam always brings with it a sense of uncertainty. Players are coming out of the off-season, often without much match practice.

Nowhere was that more evident than last year when Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer – supposedly past their best – triumphed to make the final, Federer eventually running out the victor in five sets.

This year it’s even more wide open than normal for both the men and women. Question marks hang over the fitness of Nadal, while Andy Murray has already pulled out. Joining Nadal on that line of fitness questioning are Stan Wawrinka, Novak Djokovic and Kei Nishikori among others.

Nadal will be the top seed, ahead of Roger Federer and young guns Grigor Dimitrov and Alexander Zverev. It appears it could be a year for the youngsters – if they can find a way to overcome Federer, who has started out in incredible form at the Hopman Cup.

While Murray is out, Novak Djokovic has fallen down the seedings, as has another former champion in Stan Wawrinka, who sits on the edge of the top ten.

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The women’s draw was going to be headlined by the return to tennis for Serena Williams, who won last year’s tournament while pregnant.

She hasn’t regained fitness yet though and won’t be able to play. It throws the women’s race wide open with Simona Halep the top seed. Caroline Wozniacki, Garbine Muguruza and Elina Svitolina round out the top four.

Australia’s charge will be led by Nick Kyrgios and Ashleigh Barty in the men’s and women’s tournaments respectively. Kyrgios is 17th seed and coming off a Brisbane International victory, while Barty is seeded at 18, having come from world No.271 at the start of last year.

Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the 2018 Australian Open draw announcement from 7pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add your own comments below.

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