Novak Djokovic shares a laugh with his coach Boris Becker during practice on the Margaret Court Arena, prior to the first round of the Australian Open where he will meet South Korean Hyeon Chung. Photo: EPA

Five-time winner Novak Djokovic seeded to face Roger Federer in Australian Open semi-finals

Published: 12:45pm, 15 Jan 2016

Five-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic is projected to face record grand slam winner Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the season’s opening grand slam following Friday’s draw.

Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray practice together on Rod Laver Arena. Photo: AP

The 10-time grand slam champion from Serbia could face Japan’s seventh seed Kei Nishikori in the quarters, while Switzerland’s 17-time major winner Federer is set to meet Czech Tomas Berdych in the second quarter-final of the top half of the men’s draw.

READ > Australian Open injury scare for Nick Kyrgios at Kooyong

Top seed Djokovic, who wore down Andy Murray to win last year’s Australian final, won three grand slam titles among 11 tournament victories in a sensational 2015 season, and a win-loss record of 82-6.

Roger Federer is on collision course with Novak Djokovic. They could meet in the semi-finals. Photo: EPA

He will play South Korean Hyeon Chung in the opening round.

British second seed Murray is drawn to meet Spanish terrier David Ferrer in a quarter-final in the bottom half of the men’s draw.

The Scot will take on Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the opening round, while eighth seed Ferrer could face Lleyton Hewitt in the second round in the Australian great’s 20th consecutive and farewell home grand slam before his retirement.

Kei Nishikori will meet Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals if both players make the expected progress. Photo: AFP

Murray could have a showdown with top-ranked Australian youngster Bernard Tomic in the fourth round.

READ > No excuse: Tomic at it again as he apologises after practice court row

Rafael Nadal faces a potential rematch of his losing 2014 final against Swiss fourth seed Stan Wawrinka in the other quarter-final in the bottom half of the draw.

Wawrinka is projected to face big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic in the fourth round, while Nadal could take on South African Kevin Anderson in the last 16.

Post