(REUTERS) – Andy Murray’s bid for a first Australian Open tennis title will begin on Monday with a first-round match against Illya Marchenko.The world number one faces the 93rd-ranked Ukrainian in his opener, whom he beat comfortably in the second round of the 2011 tournament, their sole Tour encounter.
From there, three-time grand slam winner Murray enjoys a relatively smooth run to the quarters where fifth seed Kei Nishikori or Roger Federer may await.
Meanwhile, defending champion Novak Djokovic will launch his bid for a record seventh Australian Open title with a mouth-watering first-round match against Fernando Verdasco.
Spaniard Verdasco knocked out compatriot and 14-time grand slam champion Rafael Nadal in the opening round last year at Melbourne Park and had five match points against Djokovic in their recent clash at the Qatar Open.
Should Djokovic advance, the world number two could face a resurgent Grigor Dimitrov in the fourth round. The Bulgarian won the Brisbane International last week and is in ominous form.
Federer, seeded 17th after the longest injury lay-off of his near 20-year career, eases back in to grand slam action against a qualifier.
But the Swiss master’s path to an 18th grand slam title is likely to mean passing a huge third round hurdle against Japan’s Nishikori.
Three-time major winner Stan Wawrinka, the 2014 champion, faces a challenging first-round clash with Slovak Martin Klizan, with a possible fourth round against tempestuous Australian talent Nick Kyrgios.
Nadal, the 2009 champion and seeded ninth this year, plays German journeyman Florian Mayer first up as he seeks to revive his career after a barren two years at the majors.
A potential blockbuster quarter-final against third seed Milos Raonic looms for the 30-year-old Mallorcan, who has failed to reach the last four at a grand slam since his 2014 French Open triumph.
In the women’s tournament, British world number 10 Johanna Konta faces Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens.
Elsewhere, Serena Williams has been dealt a perilous first clash against Swiss talent Belinda Bencic as the American bids for a record 23rd grand slam title in the professional era.
Williams, coming back after a four-month lay-off to deal with shoulder injuries, could then face former top-10 player Lucie Safarova in the second round.