Serena Williams of the US prepares to serve to Na Li of China, during their tennis match on the second day of the WTA championship in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday. AP FILE PHOTO
BRISBANE — Serena Williams will face fellow American Varvara Lepchenko in the first round of the Brisbane International and could play local hope Samantha Stosur in the quarterfinals.
Saturday’s draw pitted Stosur, who said she had left ankle surgery three weeks ago to remove a bone spur, against Sweden’s Sofia Arvidsson in the opening round.
Top-seeded Victoria Azarenka and second-seeded Maria Sharapova have first-round byes. Eighth-seeded and former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki has drawn a qualifier.
In the men’s draw, Lleyton Hewitt drew inaugural Brisbane champion Radek Stepanek. Top-seeded Andy Murray and second-seeded Milos Raonic of Canada have first-round byes.
The tournament begins Sunday.