Federer faces tough path to title

Roger Federer, recovering from a stomach virus and without a competitive match since November...

Roger Federer, recovering from a stomach virus and without a competitive match since November, landed in the same half as No. 3 Novak Djokovic and four former Australian Open finalists in Friday8217;s draw for the year8217;s first major.

Bidding for a third consecutive Australian title and 13th Grand Slam, Federer opens against Argentina8217;s Diego Hartfield and could meet veteran Frenchman Fabrice Santoro, in his 62nd major, in the second.

James Blake and Tomas Berdych are in his quarter and, if seeded players progress on rankings, Federer will meet No. 7 Fernando Gonzalez in the quarter finals 8212; a rematch of last year8217;s Australian Open final.

Djokovic looms in the semis if he can get past a tough quarter that includes former Australian Open champions Marat Safin and Thomas Johansson and former finalists Marcos Baghdatis 2006 and Lleyton Hewitt 2005.

David Nalbandian is in Djokovic8217;s quarter along with David Ferrer of Spain and former French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Rafael Nadal, the only player to beat Federer in the last 10 Grand Slam events, will have to get past fellow Spaniard Carlos Moya en route to a potential quarter final match against former US Open champion Andy Roddick.

If he makes the semi-finals, second-ranked Nadal could face the likes of No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko, No. 8 Richard Gasquet or No. 9 Andy Murray, who has a difficult opening match against young Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

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On the women8217;s side, No. 1 Justine Henin will not encoutner a Top 10 player until a potential quarter final match against No. 5 Maria Sharapova, who lost last year8217;s final to Serena Williams.

Sharapova has a difficult second-round match against former No. 1 Lindsay Davenport, who was unseeded despite winning three titles since her comeback following the birth of son Jagger, her first child, last June.

Serena Williams, who won the 2007 Australian title despite being unseeded and ranked No. 81, has a relatively easy path to the quarter finals with wild card entry Jarmila Gajdosova in the first round and the prospect of two qualifiers after that.

No. 3 Jelena Jankovic of Serbia or 2006 Australian Open champion Amelie Mauresmo shape as her likely quarter final rivals.

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In the other half, No. 2 Svetlana Kuznetsova cannot meet a Top 10 player until a quarter final against fellow Russian Anna Chakvetadze, who is seeded sixth.

In the semis, she could meet No. 8 Venus Williams, the Wimbledon champion, or No. 4 Ana Ivanovic.