While Alexander Zverev meets a qualifier on his Grand Slam comeback, Jule Niemeier caught what was probably the hardest lot at the Australian Open.
The German number one faces world number one Iga Swiatek in the first round of the major tournament in Melbourne, which begins on Monday, according to the draw on Thursday.
Niemeier had already met the Pole in the round of 16 at the US Open and lost in three sets. After his month-long injury break, Zverev plays against Juan Pablo Varillas, who slipped into the main draw despite a defeat in the final qualifying round.
“It is crucial for him that he wins the first game and then gets back into a kind of tournament rhythm,” said national coach Michael Kohlmann to SID on Zverev’s prospects: “If the first win comes in and a few things go by themselves again, then believe I think you can talk about other things again.”
Like Zverev, Oscar Otte (Cologne) against Shang Juncheng (China) and Tatjana Maria (Bad Saulgau) against Lucrezia Stefanini (Italy) also have to deal with professionals from the qualification. Daniel Altmaier (Kempen) caught a heavy chunk in the US Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe (USA). The same applies to Hamburg’s Tamara Korpatsch, who challenges Emma Raducanu, the 2021 New York winner from Great Britain. – The first round games of the German professionals at a glance:
Australian Open – Men:
- Alexander Zverev (Hamburg/No. 12) – Juan Pablo Varillas (Peru)
- Oscar Otte (Cologne) – Shang Juncheng (China)
- Daniel Altmaier (Kempen) – Frances Tiafoe (USA/No. 16)
- Jan-Lennard Struff (Warstein) – Tommy Paul (USA)
- Yannick Hanfmann (Karlsruhe) – Rinky Hijikata (Australia)
Australian Open – Women:
- Jule Niemeier (Dortmund) – Iga Swiatek (Poland/No. 1)
- Tatjana Maria (Bad Saulgau) – Lucrezia Stefanini (Italy)
- Tamara Korpatsch (Hamburg) – Emma Raducanu (Great Britain)
- Laura Siegemund (Metzingen) – Lucia Bronzetti (Italy)
- Eva Lys (Hamburg) – Cristina Bucsa (Spain)
