Federer Meets Santoro Thursday at Australian Open; Hewitt, Djokovic Also On Tap

Posted on January 16, 2008

Roger Federer bids for his 16th straight victory at Melbourne Park when he faces the oldest man in the draw, Fabrice Santoro. The Frenchman, a two-time Australian Open doubles champion, is playing his 62nd major which is an Open Era men’s record.
 
Two wildcards taking on Grand Slam champions. Former Wimbledon and US Open champion Lleyton Hewitt faces world No. 216 and 2007 Asian champ Denis Istomin, the lowest-ranked player to reach the second round. Hewitt’s countryman Alun Jones faces 2003 Roland Garros winner Juan Carlos Ferrero, seven years after their only previous meeting.
 
2005 champion Marat Safin, who was also twice a runner-up here, attempts to upset 2006 runner-up and No. 15 seed Marcos Baghdatis. Safin has won their only previous meeting.
 
Last year’s runner-up Fernando Gonzalez has a third career meeting with Hyung-Taik Lee, the Chilean has won both previous meetings.
 
No. 10 seed David Nalbandian faces a second Australian here in Peter Luczak. Nalbandian bids to advance to the third round here for the sixth successive year, while Luczak is aiming to do so for the third time.
 
An all-American match-up between James Blake and Michael Russell. The two also met in the first round of the 2007 US Open. Russell has advanced to the second round of a major for just the second time here.

Novak Djokovic has a first career meeting with Simone Bolelli while fellow Serb Janko Tipsarevic bids to upset No. 25 seed Fernando Verdasco.
 
Sydney champion Dmitry Tursunov attempts to extend his winning streak with a third career victory against fellow Californian resident Sam Querrey. (ITF Media)

An all-Spanish speaking clash between No. 5 seed David Ferrer and Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro, who have never met previously while another Spaniard Oscar Hernandez faces No. 13 seed Tomas Berdych.