Australian Open 2017 draw analysis: Djokovic and Murray on yet another collision course

Novak Djokovic

For all his skill and form, Novak Djokovic has been handed a difficult opponent straight to begin his Grand Slam. He will be up against famed "giant-killer” Fernando Verdasco, who gave him a solid contest to begin the 2017 season in Doha. Scalping a set off the Serb at the semi-finals of the ATP250 tournament, Verdasco almost won the second in a tiebreak that saw Djokovic struggle to take control.

Last year, Verdasco was responsible for Rafael Nadal’s earliest ever Grand Slam edit, when he ousted his compatriot in Round 1 at the tournament.

It will be a tough start for Djokovic, but one that, should he overcome, will give him a breather for the next couple of rounds. He will likely set up a second round meeting with Denis Istomin and then with Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta, should all go according to plan. Then, Djokovic will begin to see tough opponents – Sydney winner Grigor Dimitrov, who appears to be enjoying a resurgence in form and Dominic Thiem, who many have touted as a future No. 1.

In the semi-finals Djokovic will see perhaps his biggest challenge till then – in Milos Raonic, who last year made his Grand Slam finals debut against Andy Murray at Wimbledon. The Canadian, who has had numerous injury struggles in the past, has seen a deep purple patch of form in recent months, has however never beaten Djokovic in their past eight meetings.

Of course, a victory there would pave the way for yet another Novak Djokovic – Andy Murray final, as watchers have so often seen in past years, this time with prestige on the line for both Murray and Djokovic, albeit for different reasons entirely.