Nadal faces Youzhny, Del Potro draws Janowicz

Dejan Kalinic

Nadal faces Youzhny, Del Potro draws Janowicz image

Rafael Nadal has drawn a potentially tricky clash against Mikhail Youzhny in the Australian Open first round.

The Spaniard, returning from appendix surgery, does hold an 11-4 win-loss record over Russian Youzhny.

Nadal's participation at the first grand slam of the year was in doubt, and the 14-time grand slam champion - last year's runner-up - may be rusty early on.

Juan Martin del Potro, the 2009 US Open winner making his comeback from injury, takes on Pole Jerzy Janowicz.

Del Potro is a two-time quarter-finalist in Melbourne, while Janowicz is a former world number 14.

The winner of that clash will likely face exciting Frenchman Gael Monfils, who meets countryman and wildcard Lucas Pouille.

Serbian hot favourite Novak Djokovic got a favourable draw, meeting a qualifier in the first round.

Roger Federer, the Swiss great and second seed, will take on Chinese Taipei's Lu Yen-hsun.

Defending champion Stanislas Wawrinka has drawn Turkey's Marsel Ilhan.

Japan's Kei Nishikori faces a tough first-round encounter against Spaniard Nicolas Almagro, while Grigor Dimitrov meets flamboyant German Dustin Brown.

Tomas Berdych, chasing his maiden grand slam, will face Colombian left-hander Alejandro Falla.

David Ferrer will go into his clash against Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci as favourite, while Andy Murray meets a qualifier.

Dejan Kalinic