MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) The mixed doubles draw is a little more star-studded than usual at the Australian Open this year, all thanks to the upcoming London Olympics.
Serena Williams and Andy Roddick are teaming up to get some practice just in case they decide to combine at the Olympics, where mixed doubles will be included as an event for the first time since 1924. Incredibly, the duo are not seeded and are scheduled to play the top seeds - American Mike Bryan and Czech doubles specialist Kveta Peschke - in the first round.
Serena joked after her second-round singles match Thursday that she should play the forehand side since her forehand is better than Roddick's. But she'll stroke Roddick's ego by allowing him to serve first.
``I was thinking I should, but I'll let him feel like, you know, macho man and let him start first,'' she said.
It was unclear whether Roddick's withdrawal Thursday night from his second-round match against Lleyton Hewitt would affect his participation in the mixed doubles at Melbourne Park.
Serena has two Grand Slam mixed doubles titles from early in her career - she won at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 1998 with Max Mirnyi. Roddick has never played mixed doubles at a Grand Slam.
Other interesting pairings in the draw include the Japanese team of Kimiko Date-Krumm and Kei Nishikori and the Indian duo of Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi. With three of the world's top men's doubles players, India is considered a gold medal threat in the mixed competition; the only question is who will play with Mirza in London.
Though representing different nations, former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic of Serbia is partnering with Australian teen sensation Bernard Tomic.
Two players who definitely won't be playing together in London are Roger Federer and Martina Hingis. Federer asked Hingis last year about teaming up for Switzerland, but Hingis declined - a decision she confirmed Thursday at Melbourne Park.
We talked at the end of the season,'' Hingis told The Associated Press.I haven't played for four years. He has to concentrate on singles and doubles and I think it's better that way.''
THEM'S THE BREAKS: Milos Raonic's perfect serving start to the year has finally been broken.
The big-serving Canadian began the season by winning all 48 of his service games in four matches at Chennai, India - the first player to win a title without dropping serve since Roger Federer did it in Halle in 2008. He served 76 aces and saved all 14 break points he faced.
Raonic was perfect on serve in his first-round match at Melbourne Park, as well. On Thursday, however, the streak ended when Germany's Philipp Petzschner broke him twice in the second round. Raonic at least came away with the win.
The 21-year-old later acknowledged he was a little tight during the match.
``It's always tough to close out a match. Especially for me a big part of closing out matches is my serve. I don't think in the first game I put in any first serves,'' Raonic said.
Raonic has still won 79 of 81 service games to start the season, for an impressive 97.5 percent.
TEED OFF: Ana Ivanovic and Caroline Wozniacki have both been trying to pick up tips from their golfer boyfriends. Neither is having much luck.
My golf is not so good,'' said Ivanovic, who is dating No. 7-ranked Adam Scott of Australia.I can hit the ball sometimes. I putt good, though. I can do that.''
Wozniacki, whose boyfriend is U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy, said Wednesday she had been on the course a few times with the Northern Irishman, but ``once I'm out there alone and have to start playing, it goes right and left and up and down.''
At least they still have tennis. Ivanovic joined Wozniacki in the third round Thursday after a 6-2, 6-3 win over Michaella Krajicek of the Netherlands.
She dropped one point on serve in the first set - and that was a double-fault.
Scott, an eight-time winner on the PGA Tour, has been courtside for both of Ivanovic's matches this week. He'll be there when she plays Vania King of the United States in the third round on Saturday, as well.
``He's going to stay. It's great to have that support,'' said Ivanovic, who reached the Australian Open final in 2008 before winning her only Grand Slam title at Roland Garros four months later.
The 24-year-old Ivanovic's ranking has fluctuated wildly since then, and several coaches have come and gone. Ivanovic has been working with British coach Nigel Sears since June.
I feel really comfortable in the environment I have now,'' she said.I think that's been the biggest change. It was a tough one. But I really feel it's helped my game a lot, and my mental side as well. It's been great.''
AP Sports Writer Caroline Cheese contributed to this report.