Tennis: Men's ASB Classic draw released

Michael Venus. Photo www.photosport.nz

New Zealand wildcard Michael Venus has been given a tough draw in the men's ASB Classic, being matched against fifth seed Roberto Bautista-Agut.

Given the strength of the field Venus was always going to get a difficult opponent, but Bautista-Agut will be a daunting prospect.

The world No 15 has six ATP titles, including Auckland in 2016, and also boasts a win over Novak Djokovic when the Serbian was world No1.

Venus will be a massive underdog – especially as he hasn't played singles since this time last year but he will still have a fighting chance, especially if his serve is on song.

The rest of the first round has thrown up some intriguing match ups, including four time champion David Ferrer facing Chinese wildcard Yibing Wu.

Hopes are high for the 18-year-old Wu in the 'Middle Kingdom', but it's also a favourable draw for Ferrer, who has also avoided some of the bigger guns in his quarter of the field.

Another standout first round match will see 2017 semi finalist Steve Johnson against compatriot Ryan Harrison, while Russian Andrey Rublev will face highly rated Greek wildcard Stefanos Tsitsipas, in a battle of the ATP's Next Generation talents.

Hyeon Chung's (Korea) takes on Britain's Kyle Edmund is another clash of the young guns, while 2017 finalist Joao Sousa should be slight favourite against American Donald Young.

The top four seeds get byes into the second round, but Juan Martin del Potro could face highly rated Canadian Denis Shapovalov in his first match in Auckland since 2009.

It won't be easy. Shapovalov beat Del Potro in Montreal last year, en route to his first ATP semifinal, in the process becoming the youngest player to break into the top 50 since Rafa Nadal in 2004.

John Isner is in the same quarter of the draw as Ferrer – which could see a repeat of some of their epic Auckland battles while defending champion Jack Sock looks to have a relatively straightforward path to the quarter finals.