体坛英语新闻：Nadal to meet Brazilian Daniel in Australia Open first round

CANBERRA, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Spainish tennis star Rafal Nadal will play against Marcos Daniel of Brazil in the first round of the Australia Open.

According to the draw held on Friday, top-seeded Nadal is in the top half along with British Andy Murray and Sweden Robin Soderling. Swiss Roger Federer, the second seed, is in the bottom half of the draw with third-seeded Serbia Novak Djokovic.

Nadal won the French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open in 2010. He is bidding to become the first man in 42 years to win four straight Grand Slam tournaments.

Defending champion Federer will take on Lukas Lacko in the first round, Djokovic will meet Marcel Granollers and British hope Murray, who lost to Federer in last year's final at Melbourne Park, plays Karol Beck.

On the women's side, top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark will face Gisela Dulko of Argentina in the first round.

Serena Williams, the defending champion, will not play due to her recovery from a foot injury.

The third-seeded Kim Clijsters will play Dinara Safina of Russia in a match featuring two former No. 1 players, while Russian Maria Sharapova will meet Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand.