Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) squash player Ryan Cuskelly has been drawn to meet third seeded Egyptian Amr Shabana in the opening round of the Australian Open to be held in Canberra from August 10-15.

Former world number one and 2008 champion David Palmer (former AIS) will get his Australian Open campaign underway with a tricky clash against India’s Saurav Ghosal.

If Palmer can overcome Ghosal then he is likely to meet fierce rival James Willstrop (England) in the second round. 

Palmer is currently ranked 10th in the world but is still be considered one of the favourites to take out the first Super Series event of the season.

“I have been working hard over the break and feel I have a good chance of winning the Australian Open even though I am currently outside the top eight.”

World No.1 and top seed Nick Matthew begins his quest to become the first Englishman to win the Australian title since Gawain Briars in 1979 with an all-English clash against Joey Barrington.

With 18 of the world’s top 20 heading to the Royal Theatre in Canberra for the 2010 Open, there was never a chance of an easy passage to the later stages for any player in the main draw.

Men’s first round:

1-Nick Matthew (ENG) v Joey Barrington (ENG)
11-Wael El Hindi (EGY) v Simon Rosner (GER)
8-Peter Barker (ENG) v Qualifier
13-Adrian Grant (ENG) v Qualifier
3-Amr Shabana (EGY) v Ryan Cuskelly (AUS)
15-Alister Walker (ENG) v Ong Beng Hee (MAS)
6-James Willstrop (ENG) v Qualifier
10-David Palmer (AUS) v Saurav Ghosal (IND)
9-Daryl Selby (ENG) v Tom Richards (ENG)
5-Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Qualifier
14-Mohammed El Shorbagy (EGY) v Qualifier
4-Karim Darwish (EGY) v Qualifier
12-Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) v Qualifier
7-Thierry Lincou (FRA) v Stewart Boswell (AUS)
16-Cameron Pilley (AUS) v Qualifier
2-Ramy Ashour (EGY) v Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY)