Melbourne (AFP)

Title holder, Japanese Naomi Osaka (N.3 world) will have the honor of opening the Australian Open on Monday, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, by facing the Czech Marie Bouzkova (59th) from 11:00 a.m. (1:00 a.m. French) in the Melbourne Rod Laver Arena

On the French side, Caroline Garcia (46th), Fiona Ferro (63rd) and Pauline Parmentier (133rd) will be the first of the five Bleues to play, against Madison Brengle (95th), Alison van Uytvank (47th) and Qiang Wang (29th) respectively. In the men's, Benoît Paire (24th), Ugo Humbert (57th), Corentin Moutet (70th), Grégoire Barrère (82nd) ​​and Quentin Halys (215th and from qualifications) will be the first five of the 13 Tricolors in the men's table to play, respectively against Cedrik-Marcel Stebe (153rd), John Millman (47th), Marin Cilic (39th), Mohamed Safwat (172nd) and Filip Krajinovic (41st).

After Osaka, it is the queen of the Australian Serena Williams (9th) who will start against the Russian Anastasia Potapova (90th) her quest for an 8th title in Melbourne, which would be her 24th Grand Slam trophy.

Roger Federer (3rd) will then enter the competition against the American Steve Johnson (81st).

The night session will also be very prestigious in the Rod Laver enclosure with the debut before his audience of the world N.1 Ashleigh Barty, facing the Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko (120th), before entering the court of Novak Djokovic (2nd), favorite of the men's table and who aims for an 8th title in this first lifting of the Grand Slam of the year. The Serb will face to start the tough German Jan-Lennard Struff (37th).

The program at the Margaret Court Arena will also be enticing, with in particular the match of extremes between Venus Williams (55th to 39 years old) and his American compatriot Coco Gauff (67th to 15 years old). It was by beating his elder in the first round of Wimbledon last year that Gauff made his name.

In the evening, last year's semi-finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas (6th) will face Salvatore Caruso (94th).

Program of the main matches and the main courts on Monday during the 1st day of the Australian Open

Rod Laver Arena

. From 11 a.m. (1 a.m. French)

Naomi Osaka (JPN / seeded N.3) - Marie Bouzkova (CZE)

Anastasia Potapova (RUS) - Serena Williams (USA / 8)

Steve Johnson (USA) - Roger Federer (SUI / 3)

. From 7 p.m. (9 a.m. French)

Ashleigh Barty (AUS / 1) - Lesia Tsurenko (UKR)

Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) - Novak Djokovic (SRB / 2)

Margaret Court Arena

. From 11 a.m. (1 a.m. French)

Denis Shapovalov (CAN / 13) - Marton Fucsovics (HUN)

Katerina Siniakova (CZE) - Petra Kvitova (CZE / 7)

Venus Williams (USA) - Coco Gauff (USA)

. From 7 p.m. (9 a.m. French)

Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE / 6) - Salvatore Caruso (ITA)

Sloane Stephens (USA / 24) - Shuai Zhang (CHN)

Melbourne Arena

From 11 a.m. (1 a.m. French)

Matteo Berrettini (ITA / 8) - Andrew Harris (AUS)

Kristie Ahn (USA) - Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)

Juan Ignacio Londero (ARG) - Grigor Dimitrov (BUL / 18)

Samantha Stosur (AUS) - Catherine McNally (USA)

1573 Arena

From 11 a.m. (1 a.m. French)

Sam Querrey (USA) - Borna Coric (CRO / 25)

Reilly Opelka ((USA) - Fabio Fognini (ITA / 12)

Madison Keys (USA / 10) - Daria Kasatkina (RUS)

Johanna Konta (GBR / 12) - Ons Jabeur (TUN)

Short 3

. Not before 4:00 p.m. (06:00 French)

John Millman (AUS) - Ugo Humbert (FRA)

Short 5

Marin Cilic (CRO) - Corentin Moutet (FRA)

Short 10

From 11 a.m. (1 a.m. French)

Mohamed Safwat (EGY) - Grégoire Barrère (FRA)

Short 12

Madison Brengle (USA) - Caroline Garcia (FRA)

Short 14

Fiona Ferro (FRA) - Alison van Uytvank (BEL)

Short 15

Qiang Wang (CHN) - Pauline Parmentier (FRA)

Short 22

Quentin Halys (FRA) - Filip Krajinovic (SRB)

Benoît Paire (FRA) - Cedrik-Marcel Stebe (GER)

© 2020 AFP