Match Draws Called in Aussie Open, Kanepi Faces Larsson
In the first round of the women's singles in the Australian Open, Estonian Kaia Kanepi, having recently proved that she's back on her game, will go up against Swede Johanna Larsson, ranked 59th in the world.
It will be the first time Kanepi - bumped back up to 26th after claiming the title of the first major tournament of the year at Brisbane - will meet Larsson at a Women's Tennis Association (WTA) match.
Larsson has previously reached two WTA finals, and her highest success at any Grand Slam tournament has been the second round.
In the second round, if Kanepi is victorious, she will face either Russian Ekaterina Makarova (WTA 54) or Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn (WTA 93). Should she continue to the third round, her next opponent could be Russian Vera Zvonareva (WTA 7).
Meanwhile, the world's number one Caroline Wozniacki will play Anastasia Rodionova (WTA 107). Another favorite, American Serena Williams, is matched with Austrian Tamira Paszek (44th). Maria Sharapova (WTA 4) will play Gisela Dulko (WTA 67) from Argentina.
Samantha Stosur, the winner of the last Grand Slam, the US Open, will meet Romanian Sorana Cirstea (WTA 60) in the first round. The defending champion of the Australian Open, one of the four most important tournaments of the year, is former number one Kim Clijsters.
Ott Tammik