Williams, Li in top half of the draw

World No 1 Serena Williams faces a potential semifinal with China's Li Na following Friday's women's draw for the Australian Open.

Williams, who could equal Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert's total of 18 Grand Slam singles titles with victory at Melbourne Park, will play Australian Ashleigh Barty first up.

The American, a five-time Australian Open champion, is seeded to face Italy's seventh seed Sara Errani in the quarters before a potential semifinal clash with fourth-seeded Li.