<p>World number one Novak Djokovic's bid for a third successive Australian Open title has been given a boost with a relatively smooth draw in the first Grand Slam of the season. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The 25-year-old Serb kicks off his title defence with a first round tie against unseeded Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu in the draw announced on Friday and faces no major hurdles until a potentially dangerous quarterfinal against fifth-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych. <br /><br />In a top half of the draw free of 'Big Four' rivals Roger Federer, Andy Murray and the absent Rafa Nadal, a possible semifinal clash with fourth seed David Ferrer, looms for five-times Grand Slam winner Djokovic, who beat the tenacious Spaniard in the quarterfinals last year. <br /><br />Former world number one Federer faces a tough first week in his bid to add to his record 17 Grand Slam titles, however. <br /><br />The four-time champion will also play an unseeded Frenchman in Benoit Paire in his opener, but is likely to face former top-10 player Nikolay Davydenko of Russia in the second round before another potentially tricky clash with local hope Bernard Tomic in the third. <br /><br />Big-serving Milos Raonic of Canada, the 13th seed, is then an unpalatable prospect in the last 16, with athletic Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga a good chance to meet the Swiss in the quarterfinals. <br /><br />US Open champion Murray will start his campaign against unseeded Dutchman Robin Haase but the Briton is <br />likely to have one eye on Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro, who looms as a possible quarterfinal opponent. <br />In the women's draw, Serena Williams will start her bid for a sixth Melbourne title against Romania's Edna Gallovits-Hall, with a potential quarterfinal clash against former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova. <br /><br />The 31-year-old Williams, raging favourite to win her 16th Grand Slam singles title and third in a row after her Wimbledon and US Open triumphs last year, would then be in line for a showdown with defending champion Victoria Azarenka. <br /><br />Top seed Azarenka plays another Romanian, Monica Niculescu, in her first round with former world number one Caroline Wozniacki a potential quarterfinal opponent. <br /><br />Second seeded Russian Maria Sharapova faces a perilous first week, with a likely third round encounter against Venus Williams following her opening match against compatriot Olga Puchkova. <br /><br />Radwanska triumphs<br /><br />Agnieszka Radwanska humbled Dominika Cibulkova 6-0, 6-0 to win her second Australian Open warm-up tournament in two weeks at the Sydney International on Friday.<br /><br />In the men's draw in Sydney, Bernard Tomic scored a 7-6, 6-4 win over Italy's Andreas Seppi to reach final where the Australian will meet South African Kevin Anderson, who edged out Julien Benneteau 3-6, 6-4, 7-6. David Ferrer thrashed Gael Monfils 6-1, 6-2 to reach the final of the Auckland Open. The Spaniard will face Philipp Kohlschreiber, who beat American Sam Querrey 6-4, 7-6.<br /><br />In the Hobart warm-up, Russian Elena Vesnina upset American eighth seed Sloane Stephens 6-2, 6-2. Vesnina will play Mona Barthel, who beat Kirsten Flipkens 6-4, 6-4.</p>
<p>World number one Novak Djokovic's bid for a third successive Australian Open title has been given a boost with a relatively smooth draw in the first Grand Slam of the season. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The 25-year-old Serb kicks off his title defence with a first round tie against unseeded Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu in the draw announced on Friday and faces no major hurdles until a potentially dangerous quarterfinal against fifth-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych. <br /><br />In a top half of the draw free of 'Big Four' rivals Roger Federer, Andy Murray and the absent Rafa Nadal, a possible semifinal clash with fourth seed David Ferrer, looms for five-times Grand Slam winner Djokovic, who beat the tenacious Spaniard in the quarterfinals last year. <br /><br />Former world number one Federer faces a tough first week in his bid to add to his record 17 Grand Slam titles, however. <br /><br />The four-time champion will also play an unseeded Frenchman in Benoit Paire in his opener, but is likely to face former top-10 player Nikolay Davydenko of Russia in the second round before another potentially tricky clash with local hope Bernard Tomic in the third. <br /><br />Big-serving Milos Raonic of Canada, the 13th seed, is then an unpalatable prospect in the last 16, with athletic Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga a good chance to meet the Swiss in the quarterfinals. <br /><br />US Open champion Murray will start his campaign against unseeded Dutchman Robin Haase but the Briton is <br />likely to have one eye on Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro, who looms as a possible quarterfinal opponent. <br />In the women's draw, Serena Williams will start her bid for a sixth Melbourne title against Romania's Edna Gallovits-Hall, with a potential quarterfinal clash against former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova. <br /><br />The 31-year-old Williams, raging favourite to win her 16th Grand Slam singles title and third in a row after her Wimbledon and US Open triumphs last year, would then be in line for a showdown with defending champion Victoria Azarenka. <br /><br />Top seed Azarenka plays another Romanian, Monica Niculescu, in her first round with former world number one Caroline Wozniacki a potential quarterfinal opponent. <br /><br />Second seeded Russian Maria Sharapova faces a perilous first week, with a likely third round encounter against Venus Williams following her opening match against compatriot Olga Puchkova. <br /><br />Radwanska triumphs<br /><br />Agnieszka Radwanska humbled Dominika Cibulkova 6-0, 6-0 to win her second Australian Open warm-up tournament in two weeks at the Sydney International on Friday.<br /><br />In the men's draw in Sydney, Bernard Tomic scored a 7-6, 6-4 win over Italy's Andreas Seppi to reach final where the Australian will meet South African Kevin Anderson, who edged out Julien Benneteau 3-6, 6-4, 7-6. David Ferrer thrashed Gael Monfils 6-1, 6-2 to reach the final of the Auckland Open. The Spaniard will face Philipp Kohlschreiber, who beat American Sam Querrey 6-4, 7-6.<br /><br />In the Hobart warm-up, Russian Elena Vesnina upset American eighth seed Sloane Stephens 6-2, 6-2. Vesnina will play Mona Barthel, who beat Kirsten Flipkens 6-4, 6-4.</p>