The French will have to fight hard in Melbourne. Carried out Thursday, the draw of the tables of the Australian Open, marked these last days by a controversy around the playing conditions disturbed by pollution, did not offer the most affordable adversaries to the representatives of tricolor tennis.
First concerned, Kristina Mladenovic. The French number 1, who is not among the top seeds, inherited a very delicate first round against the second world, the Czech Karolina Pliskova. Caroline Garcia is better off with a duel against the American Brengle, but a possible second round against the British Johanna Konta, seeded number 12. Pauline Parmentier and Fiona Ferro are likely to meet Serena Williams in the third round. Alizé Cornet inherits a qualified to start before a possible confrontation against Maria Sharapova.
In men, the Blues leader Gaël Monfils, tenth in the world, will face the Taiwanese Lu while Benoît Paire challenges the modest German Stebe. But not all French people are doing as well. Adrian Mannarino faces the last Roland-Garros finalist, the Austrian Dominic Thiem, while Jérémy Chardy will have to be the seeded seed number 11, the Belgian David Goffin. Finalist in Doha on Saturday, Corentin Moutet will face the Croatian Marin Cilic, finalist in Melbourne two years ago.
Djokovic-Tsitsipas shock expected
Novak Djokovic, opposed to the German Jan-Lennard Struff in the first round, inherits a potential quarter-final raised with a duel against the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, winner of the last Masters. The table then reserves him a possible semi-final against Roger Federer, rather spared by fate.
Placed in the other part of the table, Rafael Nadal could face the unpredictable Australian Nick Kyrgios in the round of 16. See you Monday for the first exchanges of the tournament.