MELBOURNE: Roger Federer launches the defense of his Australian Open title Monday looking to continue his recent purple patch of form against Slovakian Lukas Lacko. The Swiss maestro must fight fire with fire at the year's first Grand Slam in Melbourne as he attempts to deny Rafa Nadal securing a place among the pantheon of tennis greats. In the women's first round, Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki faces Argentine Gisela Dulko with pressure mounting to justify her No. 1 ranking by winning a maiden Grand Slam. Too much of a gentleman to admit it publicly, Federer will be desperate to prevent Nadal from becoming the first man to hold all four slams at once since Rod Laver in 1969. Federer's bid to add to his record 16 grand slams was boosted by beating his nemesis to capture the 2010 season-ending World Tour Finals in London. He also won in Doha earlier this month and will need to ride that form to deny Nadal, should the two reach the final. Lacko can come out swinging at Rod Laver Arena but Federer, who is gunning for an unprecedented fifth Australian Open, will be expected to make short work of the world No. 97. Federer began the mind games in the build-up to the year's first Grand Slam by saying Nadal was the man to beat as the Spaniard holds the other three major titles. Wozniacki has yet to taste grand slam glory despite dethroning Serena Williams at the top of the women's rankings last October. Maria Sharapova, who has been No. 1 and won three grand slam singles titles, including the 2008 Australian Open, meets Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn in the first round. The Russian 16th seed, who has struggled with her game since shoulder surgery in late 2008, has promised to let rip, a cue for some ear-splitting decibels. Italy's Francesca Schiavone, the French Open champion and sixth seed, also plays Monday and should have little trouble overcoming Spain's Arantxa Parra Santonja. World No. 3 Novak Djokovic of Serbia, the 2008 champion, faces Spain's Marcel Granollers, while last year's surprise Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych, the sixth seed, faces Italy's Marco Crugnola.
