2015 Australian Open: Biggest Early-Round Obstacles for the Top Seeds
The 2015 Australian Open is finally here, but the top-seeded players won't be able to relax for long.
Both the men's and women's draws are loaded with talented, upset-minded players itching to knock the stars from their perches.
On the men's side, Rafael Nadal faces a tough opening-round match that will test his fitness. Other players like Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic will have to worry about potential struggles later in the first week.
Serena Williams leads the women's field, but her current form makes her far from a sure bet to win the tournament. Her rival, Maria Sharapova, will also have to tread through potentially dangerous matches.
Rising stars Milos Raonic, Kei Nishikori, Eugenie Bouchard and Simona Halep are now dealing with the added expectations of going far in Grand Slam tournaments. To reach their potential in Melbourne, they will have to dig deep and handle the pressure.
Here is a countdown of the top-eight seeds for the men and women and early-round obstacles in their way. To reach the second week of the tournament, each player has plenty of work to do.
Caroline Wozniacki
1 of 16
Early-Round Obstacle: Victoria Azarenka (possible second-round match)
Caroline Wozniacki must deal with one of the toughest draws any player will face at the 2015 Australian Open.
She'll start her campaign against 18-year-old Taylor Townsend, an American flowing with potential. Wozniacki should get past her, but the second round will be even more difficult.
Wozniacki would then meet the winner of the Victoria Azarenka vs. Sloane Stephens match in Round 2. Assuming Azarenka survives, she would play for an eighth time against Wozniacki, who holds a 4-3 advantage in the rivalry.
A two-time champion in Melbourne, Azarenka will be a difficult out despite her recent injury problems. She has the offensive firepower to beat Wozniacki and won their most recent meeting at Cincinnati in 2013. Azarenka, who's seeking to get back to No. 1 in the world, will have plenty of motivation to beat Wozniacki again.
Milos Raonic
2 of 16
Early-Round Obstacle: Gael Monfils (possible fourth-round match)
The hard-serving Canadian shouldn't face much trouble in the first round against 144th-ranked Illya Marchenko. He would then have another favorable match against either Donald Young or Tim Puetz.
In Round 3, things should start getting more interesting.
He could face off against either Lleyton Hewitt or Julien Benneteau, two veterans who can push Raonic. Still, his stiffest competition likely awaits in the fourth round, where he could meet Gael Monfils.
Monfils owns a 2-0 record against Raonic with wins at Stockholm in 2011 and Halle in 2013. The 17th-seeded Frenchman is one of the fastest players on tour, a skill which makes him a dangerous returner and shotmaker. He has the game to get Raonic out of his comfort zone and into long rallies.
To make his first Australian Open quarterfinal, Raonic will have to prove he has the fitness and consistency to get past an opponent like Monfils.
Eugenie Bouchard
3 of 16
Early-Round Obstacle: Svetlana Kuznetsova (possible third-round match)
The darling of the WTA Tour in 2014, Eugenie Bouchard's breakout moment came in Melbourne when she reached her first Grand Slam semifinal in just her fourth major tournament.
This year, her quest to get back there could take her through Svetlana Kuznetsova in Round 3.
Yielding a powerful forehand, Kuznetsova beat Bouchard last year in both of their meetings. She took control of each match and pestered the young Canadian with veteran savvy.
Bouchard is working hard to avert the dreaded sophomore slump. She boasts hoards of talent, and she'll need all of it to get past Kuznetsova if they meet.
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Tomas Berdych
4 of 16
Early-Round Obstacle: Ernests Gulbis (possible fourth-round match)
Tomas Berdych has made the quarterfinals or better at the last four Australian Opens, including a semifinals berth last year. This time around, his path to the second week won't be easy.
Possible fourth-round opponents include a trio of big hitters: Philipp Kohlschreiber, Bernard Tomic and Ernests Gulbis.
The mercurial Gulbis would be the man he'd least like to face.
Berdych and Gulbis have a hotly contested rivalry. While Berdych owns a 4-3 head-to-head advantage, Gulbis has won both of their meetings at the Grand Slam level (2012 Wimbledon and 2014 French Open).
The fiery Latvian posses a crushing serve and one of the biggest backhands in the world. Talent isn't an issue for Gulbis. He just has trouble finding consistency and controlling his emotions.
Both players have a lot of work to do before a potential meeting in the fourth round. Gulbis especially is a wild card, but should he advance that far, Berdych will be tested.
Agnieszka Radwanska
5 of 16
Early-Round Obstacle: Venus Williams (possible fourth-round match)
Agnieszka Radwanska craves her first Grand Slam title. She hired Martina Navratilova in the offseason to coach her, and the two will have to find early solutions in Australia.
In the fourth round, Radwanska could meet Venus Williams. Though Venus has lost their last three meetings, she still owns a 5-4 record against Radwanska.
Venus' recent resurgence could give her the edge. In Auckland, she won her first title in almost a year after storming past Caroline Wozniacki in a three-set final.
Radwanska is one of the steadiest players on tour, and she has a full arsenal of shots at her disposal. She'll have to rely on that variety to potentially move past Venus.
Andy Murray
6 of 16
Early-Round Obstacle: Grigor Dimitrov (possible fourth-round match)
Andy Murray landed in a favorable part of the draw, with the No. 32 seed, Martin Klizan, his highest-ranked potential opponent in the first three rounds.
To reach his sixth straight quarterfinal in Melbourne, Murray could meet fast-rising Grigor Dimitrov in the fourth round.
Dimitrov, 23, is one of the brightest young stars on the ATP World Tour and has been touted as a future Grand Slam champion. He showed off that potential last year when he drubbed Murray 6-1, 7-6(4), 6-2 in the Wimbledon quarterfinals.
The Bulgarian also topped Murray in a thrilling three-set win in Acapulco last February, though he still trails 4-2 in the emerging rivalry.
Why does Dimitrov trouble Murray? He's an offensive-minded player capable of making highlight-reel shots. With his improved fitness in the last year, Dimitrov can now hang with the Scot over the course of a long match.
If Murray does meet Dimitrov, prepare for another epic blockbuster between the two.
Ana Ivanovic
7 of 16
Early-Round Obstacle: Ekaterina Makarova (possible fourth-round match)
It's been over six years since Ana Ivanovic won her first and only Grand Slam at the 2008 French Open. Her wait to win another one may not end soon.
Her draw is the definition of rocky. In Round 3, a potential matchup with veteran Julia Goerges or 17-year-old talent Belinda Bencic could await. The fourth round would be even trickier.
Ekaterina Makarova, the 10th seed and a two-time quarterfinalist in Australia (2012-2013), went on a tear last season and reached her first Grand Slam semifinal at the U.S. Open. She's no longer a player under the radar; she's a legitimate threat.
Ivanovic and Makarova haven't played in four years, but their last match was a memorable one: a 3-6, 6-4, 10-8 win for Makarova at the 2011 Australian Open.
Grand Slam struggles have plagued Ivanovic the past five years. She's only made two major quarterfinals in that span. Advancing to the second week will again be difficult for her if Makarova stands in the way.
Kei Nishikori
8 of 16
Early-Round Obstacle: David Ferrer (possible fourth-round match)
Kei Nishikori faces a tricky first-round match against veteran Nicolas Almagro. His path won't get any easier.
A possible second-round match with the big serve of Ivan Dodig awaits. Should he reach the third round, Nishikori will likely play a more imposing foe: 18th-seeded Gilles Simon.
Nishikori, the 2014 U.S. Open runner-up, should be able to navigate his way through those players. But to reach the second week, fellow top-10 player David Ferrer could be there in the fourth round.
Ferrer, 32, may be getting older, but he still attacks the game with his same unrelenting energy. He's a difficult matchup for any player because of his consistent baseline game and supreme fitness.
Though Nishikori has won their last four matches, each one proved physically taxing. Ferrer can also draw upon his straight-sets win over Nishikori at the 2013 Australian Open for confidence.
Last year, Nishikori proved he's not far away from winning majors. To have a shot in Melbourne, he may need to once again outlast Ferrer.
Petra Kvitova
9 of 16
Early-Round Obstacle: Madison Keys (possible third-round match)
Petra Kvitova hasn't gone past the second round at the Australian Open since 2012. Her reward for doing so this year could be Madison Keys.
Keys, 19, has long been touted as a future American star. She's flashed that potential, but Keys is still searching for a signature win to add to her resume. Petra Kvitova could offer that opportunity.
Both players are known for their huge serves and flat forehands. A matchup between the two would provide some seismic hitting.
Kvitova won their only previous meeting two seasons ago in Tokyo. With two Grand Slam titles already under her belt, she has the edge on the big stages. But Keys is the type of player who's hungry for an upset, and Kvitova will have to be on alert if she wants to win her first crown Down Under.
Stan Wawrinka
10 of 16
Early-Round Obstacle: Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (possible fourth-round match)
The defending champion couldn't ask for a better start to his 2015 campaign at the Australian Open.
Stan Wawrinka won't face a seeded player until the fourth round at the earliest. If he reaches that point, Fabio Fognini or Guillermo Garcia-Lopez could his opponent.
Neither player has a great track record in Australia, but the hot-tempered Fognini is just 1-6 in tour-level matches since last year's Australian Open.
Garcia-Lopez has played Wawrinka tough in the past. The Swiss owns a slim 4-3 lead in their ongoing rivalry, though the Spaniard won their first round meeting at the French Open last year. Luckily for Wawrinka, they won't be playing on clay in Melbourne.
Reaching the fourth round in Australia for the first time will be a difficult task for Garcia-Lopez. Should he get there, he'll be ready to push Wawrinka.
Simona Halep
11 of 16
Early-Round Obstacle: Sabine Lisicki (possible third-round match)
Simona Halep's rapid rise to the top of the game continued in 2014, and this year she looks ready to challenge for her first Grand Slam title.
A quarterfinalist at the Australian Open last year, Halep is positioned well to make another deep run. But she could face a third-round test against Sabine Lisicki.
The two played twice last season, with Halep winning both—including a quarterfinal win at Wimbledon. Halep also leads their head-to head 3-1.
Lisicki can't be taken lightly. Nicknamed "Boom Boom" because of her huge serve, she can take timing away from even the best returners.
If they meet, Halep will hope her superior groundstrokes and movement win out. They could carry her not only past Lisicki, but also toward the championship.
Rafael Nadal
12 of 16
Early-Round Obstacle: Mikhail Youzhny (first round)
Rafael Nadal will face pressure right out of the gate in Australia.
Instead of being able to ease his way back from an extended injury layoff, Nadal will battle against Mikhail Youzhny, a four-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist. Though Youzhny's ranking has dipped to No. 49, he's still a dangerous and wily veteran.
Youzhny is certainly capable of beating Nadal on hard courts. While the Spaniard owns a lopsided 11-4 advantage in their head-to-head, he leads Youzhny just 5-4 on hard courts. They've even met before in Melbourne—a five-set win for Nadal in 2005.
Nadal has downplayed his chances in Australia to the press, stressing patience as he finds his form. He'll need to quickly find his game just to make the second round.
Maria Sharapova
13 of 16
Early-Round Obstacle: Lucie Safarova (possible fourth-round match)
The 2008 Australian Open champion, Maria Sharapova should pass through the first three rounds relatively easy. Things will turn up a notch in the fourth round.
Potential opponents at that point include Lucie Safarova, Shuai Peng and Yaroslava Shvedova. Based on seedings and current form, Safarova—a semifinalist at Wimbledon last year—is the most likely matchup.
Safarova trails 1-4 in her rivalry with Sharapova, but each of their last three matches went three sets. She has enough talent to beat any woman on tour and would be a great litmus test for Sharapova.
Roger Federer
14 of 16
Early-Round Obstacle: Jeremy Chardy (possible third-round match)
Based on his current form, Roger Federer is poised to make a run at his fifth Australian Open title. To get there, he'll have to survive a tough draw.
Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal potentially await in the quarterfinals and semifinals. But before that point, he'll face another swarm of difficult matches.
His earliest test could come in the form of Jeremy Chardy. The two played three times last year, and each one went the distance.
Federer rallied past Chardy in Brisbane last January, but the Frenchman returned the favor with an upset in Rome. They saved the best for last in Paris, when Federer gutted out a three-set win after squandering two match points in the second set.
Given their recent history against one another, a potential third-round meeting in Melbourne could be another high-quality bout.
Serena Williams
15 of 16
Early-Round Obstacle: Garbine Muguruza (possible fourth-round match)
For Serena Williams to win her sixth Australian Open, she may have to get past a rising star who upset her last year.
Garbine Muguruza, 21, shocked Serena with a dominant 6-2, 6-2 win at the 2014 French Open. The Spaniard used blistering groundstrokes and steely calm to take out the defending champion. She didn't just beat Serena; she tore her apart.
Serena shouldn't face much opposition in her path to the fourth round, with the 26th-seeded Elina Svitolina a potential third-round foe.
Getting past Svitolina could set her up for another meeting with Muguruza. Their rivalry remains locked at one win apiece. If they meet for a third time, Serena will be out for revenge.
Novak Djokovic
16 of 16
Early-Round Obstacle: John Isner (possible fourth-round match)
If Novak Djokovic is recovered from his recent illness, he should sail through the opening two rounds.
Spanish veteran and 2009 semifinalist Fernando Verdasco could push Djokovic in the third round, but the Serbian will have to worry more about a possible meeting with John Isner in the next round.
Isner faces his own troubles, with a potential matchup against Roberto Bautista Agut or Dominic Thiem waiting in Round 3. If he advances to play Djokovic, his monstrous serve could cause havoc.
Djokovic leads the series 5-2 against the American, but all of their matches outside of Davis Cup play have gone the distance. They've never played one another at a Grand Slam; that could change this year.
Because of his serve, the towering Isner is a tricky opponent for any player. Should they meet, Djokovic's return skills would be heavily tested.
All statistics are courtesy of ATPWorldTour.com and WTATennis.com unless otherwise noted.
Joe Kennard is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.
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