Press releases

MINSK, 15 January (BelTA) – On 15 January Melbourne hosted the draw ceremony for the Australian Open 2016 which is due to kick off on 18 January, BelTA informs.

Belarus number one Victoria Azarenka, currently ranked 16^th in the WTA rankings, will face World No.44 Alison Van Uytvanck of Belgium in the opener. Victoria Azarenka will make her 11^th appearance at the Australian Open. The Belarusian won the title in Melbourne twice: in 2012 and 2013.

Belarus will also be represented at the tournament by two more players. World No.72 Olga Govortsova will open against Germany’s Tatjana Maria (75), while Alexandra Sasnovich (106) will take on Russia’s Evgenia Rodina (90).

World number one, six-time winner of the Australian Open Serena Williams will start with Italy's Camila Giorgi (35).

The men’s singles main draw will go without Belarusians. Yegor Gerasimov was defeated in the second qualifying round, and Vladimir Ignatik was ousted in the qualifying opener.

Belarus' colors in the men’s doubles will be defended by Max Mirnyi who started the season in pair with Treat Huey of the Philippines. The doubles’ draw is scheduled for 17 January.

The main draw of the $32 million Australian Open 2016 will take place on 18-31 January.