Wawrinka still wary of Nadal
Reigning Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka has warned that last year's runner-up Rafael Nadal remains a major threat this year despite the Spaniard playing down his chances.
Nadal has played just four tournaments since losing to Australian Nick Kyrgios at Wimbledon in June.
The 14-times grand slam champion hasn't played since he lost to the 127th-ranked Michael Berrer in Doha on January 5.
He will face former top-10 player Mikhail Youzhny on Rod Laver Arena today, but if he wins will confront the winner of Australian Luke Saville and American Tim Smyczek, both ranked outside the top 100.
Wawrinka beat Nadal in last year's final in four sets, but Nadal battled injury issues throughout that match.
Wawrinka said Nadal could cause plenty of damage if he got through the early rounds.
"I will still put Rafa, Novak and Roger as the favourite of the tournament. Maybe a bit more Novak, then you have to see," Wawrinka said.
"I still think that Rafa, if he gets through the first week, then he's going to be really dangerous.
"It's not about his game, it's more about the confidence he gets after a few months out."
Wawrinka will open his title defence tomorrow against 100th-ranked Turk Marsel Ilhan.
Djokovic quashed rumours he was less than 100 per cent fit with a strenuous late-afternoon workout at Rod Laver Arena yesterday.
"I had a tough couple of days but it's all behind me. It was a little bit of the flu in the stomach. I'm ready," Djokovic said.
But Juan Martin del Potro's injury-enforced time away from grand slam tournaments got a little longer yesterday when he pulled out of the Open.
The 2009 US Open winner withdrew to avoid re-injuring a surgically repaired wrist that he said had been hurting him for the "last couple of days and weeks".
"It was a tough decision but could be a smart decision if I want to stay healthy and play for the whole year," said del Potro, who had 11 months off the tour last year recovering.
Lucky loser Hiroki Moriya from Japan takes his place.
with AAP and AP
