Brits handed nightmare Australian Open draw as Jack Draper to play Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray gets former Wimbledon finalist and Emma Raducanu could face Coco Gauff in second round

The Australian Open draw was made on Thursday and it did not make easy reading for some of the Brits down under.

The first Grand Slam of 2023 begins on Monday and there were some mouthwatering match-ups.

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Rising British star Jack Draper was given the task of trying to beat defending champion Rafael Nadal in round one.

Draper previously played Novak Djokovic in the opening round of Wimbledon in 2021 and it is a huge chance for him to make a statement with Nadal losing six of his last seven matches.

Andy Murray will be cursing his luck once again as he was drawn against Matteo Berrettini, the 2022 Australian Open semi-finalist and former Wimbledon finalist.

Kyle Edmund, playing at the tournament for the first time since 2020, will play 15th seed Jannik Sinner.

There was better news for the two British men’s seeds, with 11th seed Cameron Norrie drawing young French wild card Luca Van Assche while 25th seed Dan Evans will meet Argentina’s
Facundo Bagnis.

Title favourite Djokovic will take on Roberto Carballes Baena and is in the same quarter of the draw as Nick Kyrgios, who meets Roman Safiullin.

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In the women’s draw, Emma Raducanu will need to overcome her ankle injury to face German Tamara Korpatsch.

Coco Gauff could then await in the second round, the 18-year-old US superstar who was a finalist at the French Open last year.

British number two Harriet Dart will face 32nd seed Jil Teichmann.

World number one Iga Swiatek faces a potentially tough opener against Wimbledon quarter-finalist Jule Niemeier and two former Australian Open champions, Victoria Azarenka and Sofia Kenin, will meet in the first round.