Australian Open: Weightless for German tennis Men – SPIEGEL ONLINE

luck of the draw for women at greatest hope of Angelique Kerber – Unfortunately for the men: The mood after the draw for starting on Monday Australian Open in Melbourne (January 31) could hardly be more different from the German Tennis Professionals

. The set at position seven Kerber is true at the start of the first Grand Slam tournament of the year on the Japanese Misaki Doi (number 65 in the world ranking). Andrea Petkovic (number 24) is the opener against Elizaveta Kulitschkowa from Russia (number 108) clear favorite. Sabine Lisicki on the Czech Petra Cetkovska hits (number 131). “So you can live well,” said Fed Cup team boss Barbara Rittner the draw. A debacle as when Kerber, Lisicki and Petkovic all flew out last year in the first round, it would therefore not give the German tennis ladies this time normally.

On the men waiting for the German Tennis Hope Alexander Zverev in the first round equal to a Herculean task: The 18 year old challenges the world number two and Davis Cup winner Andy Murray of Great Britain. Similarly difficult it is probably for the German number one Philipp Kohlschreiber , who plays against the former US Open finalist Kei Nishikori of Japan (number 7). The lightest Los caught Benjamin Becker in the Israeli Dudi Sela. For Becker threatened in the event of getting through to the second round of a duel with Spaniard Rafael Nadal

Overall are nearing completion of the qualifying on Saturday 13 German professionals in the main draw of “Aussie Open.” – Ten women and three Men. In Mischa Zverev, Daniel Brands and Peter Gojowczyk three more German men still make the leap to create the main draw. The trio is on the third round of qualifying, which will be played on Saturday.

For defending champion Novak Djokovic the first highlight of the season against Hyeon Chung of South Korea begins. In the semifinal it could for the trained of Boris Becker Serb to a duel with the Swiss Roger Federer , which meets on the first lap of the Georgians Nikoloz Bassilaschwili come. The American Serena Williams will begin their title defense against Mission Camila Giorgi from Italy. Already in the quarterfinals the Russian Maria Sharapova could then wait

The encounters with German participation in the survey:.

Women:
Angelique Kerber – Misaki Doi (Japan)
Andrea Petkovic – Elizaveta Kulitschkowa (Russia)
Sabine Lisicki – Petra Cetkovska (Czech Republic)
Julia Goerges – Andreea Mitu (Romania)
Mona Barthel – Vania King (USA)
Annika Beck – Priscilla Hon (Australia)
Carina Witthöft – Saisai Zheng (China)
Tatjana Maria – Olga Gowortsowa (Belarus)
Anna-Lena Friedsam – Lourdes Dominguez Lino (Spain)
Laura Siegemund – Kiki Bertens (Netherlands)
Men:
Philipp Kohlschreiber – Kei Nishikori (Japan / No. 7)
Alexander Zverev -. Andy Murray (Britain / No 2)
Benjamin Becker – Dudi Sela (Israel)