NICK Kyrgios’s attempt to better — or even match — last year’s run to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open has been dented by a tough draw.

The Aussie young gun faces significant challenges to progress to the second week, including a potential third round match against sixth seed Tomas Berdych.

If Kyrgios managed to survive that encounter he could then face 12th seed Marin Cilic in the fourth round, before meeting Roger Federer in the quarters.

But first the 20-year-old from Canberra must get past Spanish World No. 67 Pablo Carreno Busta. “Nick’s got a tough first round matchup with Carreno Busta who is a very good absorber of pace,” said commentator Paul Annacone, at the announcement of the draw in Melbourne on Friday.

As for the potential third round meeting with Berdych, Annacone said: “That’s not shy of fireworks and firepower. Interesting matchup ... Nick played so well here last year and has points to defend.”

Federer was unlucky to land in the same half as strong tournament favourite Novak Djokovic, meaning the Swiss legend will have to pull off a huge semi-final upset to reach the final.

Federer has a confronting run towards an elusive 18th major with Grigor Dimitrov, and Alex Dolgopolov possible opponents in the first week.

Former champion Rafael Nadal has a tough opener against compatriot Fernando Verdasco in a rematch of the pair’s epic 2009 semi-final.

Similarly, Open runners-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Marcos Baghdatis clash in the first round.

It was better news for retiring Aussie hero Lleyton Hewitt, who has a very winnable first round match against compatriot James Duckworth as he looks to give the home crowd one last thrill before calling an end to his career. “A dream for the winner, a nightmare for the loser,” Annacone said.

The top half of the men’s and women’s draws will be played on Monday, so Hewitt’s opening match is likely to be played on Tuesday night. If he knocks off Duckworth, Hewitt faces a tough second round fixture against Spanish eighth seed David Ferrer.

Bernard Tomic, seeded 16th, plays Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin ahead of a possible third-round clash with Italian firebrand Fabio Fognini with world No 2 Andy Murray lurking in the fourth

round.

“For Bernard it’s going to be interesting because Istomin is a tough player. Then if he wins playing Simone Bolelli who is very dangerous,” Annacone said.

Annacone, the former coach of Pete Sampras and Federer, described a potential Tomic-Fognini pairing as “tennis theatre at its best” and predicted the young Australian would be tested physically by Murray.

“That’d be exciting. If that happens we’re going to see just how fit and ready Bernard is,” he said.

Sam Groth starts against France’s Adrian Mannarino, John Millman plays Argentine Diego Schwartzman, Matt Ebden faces Spain’s Marcel Granollers, Jordan Thompson meets Brazil’s Thomaz Bellucci and Omar Jasika starts against Ukraine’s Illya Marchenko.

Defending women’s champion Serena Williams faces a tough start to the tournament. She drew World No. 35 Camila Giorgi in round one and has potential meetings with Caroline Wozniacki (round four) and Maria Sharapova (quarters) on her schedule.

Australia’s young female talent fared badly with three of them to face seeds.

Tammi Patterson plays former world No 1 Ana Ivanovic, Maddison Inglis takes on Russian 21st seed Ekaterina Makarova and Kimberly Birrell challenges Czech Karolina Plishkova.

Seeded 25th, Sam Stosur plays a qualifier with a possible second-rounder against her Sydney nemesis Monica Puig.

Daria Gavrilova takes on Czech Lucie Hradecka for the chance to play dual Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova while Ajla Tomljanovic plays Kateryna Bondarenko.

Jarmila Wolfe will open against a qualifier.

— with Leo Schlink