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Nicol To Face Kiwi In Australian Open First Round

MELBOURNE, June 28 (Bernama) -- Malaysian World number one Datuk Nicol David, playing her first Australian Open, will face New Zealand's Kylie Lindsay in the first round, while second seed Jenny Duncalf of England takes on a qualifier in Canberra from August 8-14.

Defending champion Madeline Perry of Northern Ireland takes on Malaysia's Siti Munirah Jusoh and Hong Kong's Annie Au plays a qualifier while New Zealand's Joelle King faces Gaby Huber of Switzerland.

Australian women have received far more favourable draws, with third seed Rachael Grinham taking on Lucie Fialova of the Czech Republic while fifth seed Kasey Brown and seventh ranked Donna Urquhart are up against qualifiers.

Lisa Camilleri will play training partner Sarah Cardwell and Canberra's Christine Nunn takes on Hong Kong's Joey Chan.

In-form Victorian Melody Francis faces former Australian and 10th seed Natalie Grinham, who now plays for the Netherlands.

Another Aussie, David Palmer will have to get past world number five Amr Shabana of Egypt in the first round of the men's Australian Open if he was to have any chance of adding a second title to the one he claimed in 2008.

Top seeded Englishman Nick Matthew opens his title defence with a testing clash against South African Stephen Coppinger, who won the Brisbane's Hibiscus Gardens Open in April, ahead of a probable second round clash against Malaysia's Ong Beng Hee.

All four Australian men who qualified directly for the main draw of the August tournament have tough openers, highlighting the quality of the elite field.

Cameron Pilley takes on world number six Gregory Gaultier of France while Aaron Frankcomb is up against seventh seeded Englishman Peter Barker.

Four-time Australian Open champion Stewart Boswell will take on Indian number one Saurav Ghosal, and most likely face second seed Ramy Ashour of Egypt in the second round.

Ashour plays a qualifier in the first round, as does third seed and fellow Egyptian Karim Ashour, while fourth ranked Englishman James Willstrop plays fellow countryman Chris Ryder.

--BERNAMA

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