Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are in the same half of a grand slam for the first time in seven years after the draw made Friday for next week’s Australian Open in Melbourne.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic has world number four Andy Murray in the top half of the men’s singles draw, while Nadal and Federer, second and third ranked respectively, were placed for the bottom half. It is the first time since the 2005 French Open that 16-time grand slam champion Federer and 10-time major winner Nadal have been pitted in the same half of a grand slam draw.
The draw means that if they progress, the quartet will meet in the last four with Djokovic and Murray on collision course and Federer and Nadal eyeing a semi-final clash. Djokovic, who won three of the four grand slams and five Masters titles in a remarkable 2011, begins his Australian Open title defence against Italy’s Paolo Lorenzi.
