Melbourne
Veteran Serena Williams, world number two Simona Halep and Naomi Osaka got a place in the same half in the draw for the Australian Open. Serena Williams, a trophy away from the 24th Grand Slam singles title, will face Germany’s Laura S in the first round.

US Open champion Osaka will play Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the first round. This half also stars Angelique Kerber, Garbine Muguruza, Venus Williams and Bianca Andriscu. Defending champion Sophia Kainin is in the top half with number one ranked Ashley Barty. Both of them may meet again in the semi-finals. The last time Kenin defeated Barty in the semi-finals.

Read, Three new cases of Kovid-19 linked to Australian Open, 10 reached

Nine-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic will face Jerome Charty in the first round. He also has three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka, Milos Raonic and Alexander Zverev in his half.

Rafael Nadal trying to win the 21st Grand Slam title of his careerRafael Nadal) will face Laslo Jere in the first round. He may take on fifth seed Stefanos Sitsipas in the quarter-finals.

The official draw was delayed by a day as the game was halted on Thursday when a staff at the Tournament Hotel turned out to be Corona positive and 160 players had to undergo a corona check.

Serena prepares for perfection
Confirming their preparations for the Australian Open, 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams defeated Danielle Collins of the US 6–2, 4–6, 10–6 to enter the semi-finals of the Yara River Classic Tennis. Serena will face top-ranked Ashley Barty in the semi-finals. The Australian Open will begin on 8 February. Barty defeated Shelby Rogers 7-5, 2-6, 10-4.