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Federer, Hewitt could meet in Australian Open semifinals
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-13 11:16

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) _ Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt were placed in the same half of the Australian Open draw on Thursday, meaning two of the favorites for the first Grand Slam of the year could meet in the semifinals.

roger federer
Roger Federer
The top-seeded Federer will play an Asian wild card entry, Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan, in the tournament beginning Monday while the third-seeded Hewitt, who lost in the second round and quarterfinals of two Open warmup tournaments, will take on Robin Vik of the Czech Republic.

Also in Federer's quarter of the draw is Tommy Haas of Germany, the former No. 2 who beat Federer in an exhibition tournament this week. Haas opens against the former world junior champion, Richard Gasquet of France.

Federer's quarterfinal opponent could be fifth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko of Russia.

Second-seeded Andy Roddick and fourth-seeded David Nalbandian of Argentina, in the same half of the draw, have both drawn qualifiers for their first-round matches.

Top-seeded Lindsay Davenport will play Australian Casey Dellacqua in the first round in her tough quarter of the women's draw that also features Venus Williams and 2004 champion Justine Henin-Hardenne, meaning either one could meet Davenport in the quarterfinals.

Former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova takes on Sandra Kloesel of Germany in the first round while defending champion Serena Williams, also in Sharapova's quarter and Davenport's half, has a tough opener against China's Li Na.

Martina Hingis, a three-time Australian Open singles champion on a comeback after a three-year retirement, has drawn Vera Zvonareva of Russia, while former champion Mary Pierce plays Nicole Pratt of Australia.

Second-seeded Kim Clijsters of Belgium, bothered by a hip injury, will face Cho Yoon-jeong of South Korea.

The men's draw has been hit by the injury withdrawals of defending champion Marat Safin (left knee tendinitis), 2005 French Open winner Rafael Nadal (left foot injury) and four-time Melbourne Park singles champion Andre Agassi (left ankle strain).
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