Novak Djokovic projected Australian Open draw: Route to final, Roger Federer showdown
NOVAK DJOKOVIC and Roger Federer cannot play each other at the Australian Open unless they both reach the final.
Australian Open: Roger Federer is ‘confident’ in defending title
The pair are on opposite sides of the Australian Open draw this year.
Both Djokovic and Federer are aiming to win their seventh Australian Open title this time out.
Djokovic will face a qualifier in the first round this year.
The Serbian could then potentially face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the second round.
Tsonga, 33, lost to Djokovic in the 2008 final.
Djokovic may then face No 8 seed Kei Nishikori in the quarter-final before facing Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals.
Federer could await Djokovic in the Australian Open final if the pair continue their fine form.
The Swiss star is in the same side of the draw as Rafael Nadal, meaning one of the pair will not reach the final this year.
Federer has been vocal heading into the Australian Open, with the 37-year-old revealing he’s only focused on the first round.
"The moment you find out the draw, that's when you shift your focus to the first round and only the first round - not going for your seventh (title) or anything like that," he said.
”You try to really simplify it rather than look too far ahead.
”To win has to be the goal, but I try not to put too much pressure on it."
Roger Federer: Novak Djokovic is the one to watch
Novak Djokovic route to Australian Open final
R1 Qualifier
R2 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
R3 Denis Shapovalov
R4 Daniil Medvedev
QF Kei Nishikori
SF Alexander Zverev
F Roger Federer