2012 Australian Open: Men’s And Women’s Singles Draw

Maria Sharapova will be the No. 4 seed on the women’s side of the 2012 Australian Open as she attempts to win her second tournament here.

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has ranked Sharapova world no. 1 in singles on four separate occasions. She became the world no. 1 for the first time on August 22, 2005, and last regained this ranking for the fourth time on May 19, 2008. As of November, 2011 Sharapova is ranked world no. 4. She has been in five Grand Slam finals with the final record 3–2.

After Roger Federer was forced to withdraw from the Qatar Open earlier this month due to back spasms, many wondered, legitimately, whether the tennis legend would be able to return to the court for the 2012 Australian Open just two weeks later. According to Federer, he is already feeling “back to normal.”

Federer made it all the way to the semifinals in last year’s tournament, losing to eventual champion Novak Djokovic. Of Federer’s men’s record 16 Grand Slam titles, four of them have come in Melbourne. He will face Alexander Kudryavtsev of Russia in the opening round of this year’s tournament.

The Novak Djokovic era took flight in 2011, with the Serbian winning three out of four Grand Slam titles while earning the world’s No. 1 ranking. With 2012 Australian Open fast approaching, Djokovic knows that he cannot rest on his laurels.

The Australian Open has been relatively kind to Djokovic. In 2008, he won his first ever Grand Slam title in Melbourne at 21 years old. Melbourne was also the spot for his second ever major title last year, when he defeated Andy Murray in straight sets in the final. Djokovic will face Paolo Lorenzi in the opening round of this year’s tournament.

Andy Murray has had a rough go of it in the past two Australian Open’s, failing to win a set in either one of the finals at Melbourne Park. “Yeah, I don’t normally think too much about the past,” Murray told James Hunter Smith. “Just always try and concentrate on what’s in front of you, [and] what you’re trying to achieve this year.”

In the 2011 Australian open, Murray lost in straight-sets to Novak Djokovic. “[I] need to get physically stronger. Then the other things I’ll keep to myself and talk with [my coach] about, talk with the guys about, things that I need to improve in my game,” Murray said in response to a question about what he took away from the loss.

The 2012 Australian Open Women’s draw begins at 12 p.m. ET today on the outdoor courts. There are few women’s matchups that are must watch matches in the women’s draw. First and foremost there will be a chance to check out Kim Clijsters, the defending champion in her opening matchup with qualifier Maria Joao Koehler.

Another key match will be the No. 1 seed Caroline Wozniacki, who will be taking on Anastasia Rodionova in the first round. Oddly enough, SI.com’s experts think that Wozniacki could be an early out in the Open:

World No. 1 player Novak Djokovic won’t have to face either Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer in the 2012 Australian Open unless he reaches the final round. That’s because Nadal and Federer are on the same half of the draw. It’s the first time the Spaniard and the Swiss have been on the same half of a Grand Slam draw since 2005.

For the quickest rematch of the 2011 Australian Open final for the women, Li Na could face defending champion Kim Clijsters in the fourth round. Both are in the same quarter of the draw as World No. 1 player Caroline Wozniacki. They are all on an opposite half from Serena Williams, a five-time Australian Open champion.

Venus Williams announced that she is withdrawing from the 2012 Australian Open on her website Monday.

The Australian Open, which Williams won in 2003, takes place from January 16 to January 29 in Melbourne.