Jérémy Chardy will be opposed to Novak Djokovic in the first round of the Australian Open, on February 8, 2021. -

CHRISTOPHE SAIDI / SIPA

The draw for the Australian Open table, carried out on Friday, was very severe for some French people with the most complicated first rounds for Jérémy Chardy (66th worldwide) against Novak Djokovic (1st) and Gilles Simon (64th ) against Stefanos Tsitsipas (6th).

Richard Gasquet, injured, withdrew at the very last moment.

Gaël Monfils (11th) will face Finnish Emil Ruusuvuori (86th) to start and could face Alexander Zverev (7th) in the round of 16.

Ugo Humbert (32nd), after a 1st round against the Japanese Yasutaka Uchiyama (106th), could meet the darling of the public Nick Kyrgios (47th) in the 2nd and it is the world number 3 Dominic Thiem who will then stand on the road ...

Among the ladies too ...

Benoît Paire (28th) will have as opponent in the 1st round the Belarusian Egor Gerasimov (78th) and could fall in the 3rd round on the Argentinian Diego Schwartzman (9th).

The first round will also be difficult for Pierre-Hugues Herbert (84th) against the Italian Fabio Fognini (17th) and for Quentin Halys (206th), who got out of the qualifications to face the Spaniard Pablo Andujar in the first round ( 59th).

Also difficult for Corentin Moutet (80th) against Australian John Millman (38th).

The draw was not lenient either for Kristina Mladenovic (50th) who, in great lack of confidence, will be opposed from the outset to the formidable Greek Maria Sakkari (22nd).

Hard also for Caroline Garcia (44th) who, if she passes the Slovenian Polona Hercog in (49th) in the 1st round, will fall on the Japanese Naomi Osaka (3rd), winner of the last US Open and winner in Melbourne in 2019.

Chloé Paquet (187th) will face another qualified, the Egyptian Mayar Sherif (128th) for her big debut in Melbourne, and the other newcomer in the great Australian table Clara Burel, also from the qualifications, will have to overcome the obstacle Belgian Alison van Uytvanck (65th).

Easier entry for Alizé Cornet (53rd) against Russian qualifier Valeria Savinykh (227th), but a trap match for Fiona Ferro (43rd) against Czech Katerina Siniakova (59th).

Among the favorites, Rafael Nadal (2nd) inherited from Serbian Laslo Djere (56th) in the first round.

If he's physically recovered (he gave up playing the first two ATP Cup games this week and hasn't played competitively since his Masters semi-final in November), he should have a rather clear course until 'in quarters where Tsitsipas would expect him.

In the next round, it should be Andrey Rublev (8th) or Daniil Medvedev (4th).

Big course for Djoko

At the top of the table, defending champion Novak Djokovic, looking for a ninth success in Melbourne, the 18th in the Grand Slam, will have to be at the top of his game from the round of 16 where Stan Wawrinka (18th) should stand. or Milos Raonic (15th), before a possible quarter against Zverev or Monfils and a half against Thiem whom he had beaten last year in the final, but who since gained a lot of confidence by winning his first Major, at the US Open.

Among the women, the American title holder Sofia Kenin (4th) will start quietly against the Australian Maddison Inglis (130th and guest).

She should find the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina (5th) in the quarterfinals and the world number 1 Ashleigh Barty in the semis.

The Australian will start against Montenegrin Danka Kovinic (175th).

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