Tennis: Djokovic opens title bid against Mathieu

MELBOURNE: World number one Novak Djokovic’s bid for a third successive Australian Open title has been given a boost with a relatively smooth draw in the first grand slam of the season.

Djokovic kicks off his title defence with a first round tie against unseeded Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu in the draw and faces no major hurdles until a potentially dangerous quarter-final against fifth-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych.

“I think realistically, three can win,” said Australia’s former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash at the draw, referring to Djokovic, second-seed Roger Federer and third-seeded Andy Murray. “You’ve got to say Novak, you’d expect him to be the favourite, but Andy Murray is hitting his peak.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 12^th, 2013.