sport news Local hopes Nick Kyrgios and Ajla Tomljnanovic strike tough opponents in ... trends now
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Nick Kyrgios and his fellow Aussie grand slam title hope Ajla Tomljanovic have been handed less than ideal draws at the Australian Open, with the men's world No.21 getting a difficult first-round opponent while his ex-girlfriend can look forward to a very tough test in round two.
Kyrgios has drawn Russian world No.99 Roman Safiullin in the first round, while fellow home seed Alex de Minaur is in the same half of the draw as his countryman and will start against a qualifier.
Former top Australian women's player Alicia Molik said Safiullin is a 'tough ask' to begin the tournament with, and described Kyrgios' possible second round opponent, the dangerous 9th seed Holger Rune, as a 'big server'.
World No.21 Kyrgios will face world No.99 Roman Safiullin in the first round - and the Russian is no pushover
Ajla Tomljanovic was punished for narrowly missing a seeding as she's due to face either 2020 champion Sofia Kenin or two-time Open winner
