Australian Open: Andy Murray to face qualifier in round one

The 27-year-old Briton, a runner-up three times, has been drawn in the same half as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Murray could also face Grigor Dimitrov, the man who ended his Wimbledon reign last summer, as early as the last 16.

James Ward takes on Spain's Fernando Verdasco, while Heather Watson plays Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova.

Four-time champion Novak Djokovic begins against a qualifier and is in the same half as champion Stan Wawrinka, while Federer plays Yen-Hsun Lu and Nadal faces Mikhail Youzhny.

In the women's draw, world number one and five-time champion Serena Williams plays unseeded Belgian Alison van Uytvanck, while second seed Maria Sharapova opens against a qualifier.

Murray, seeded sixth, has made an encouraging start to 2015 with an early exhibition win over Nadal followed by three victories at the Hopman Cup in Perth.

The Scot changed his support team during the off-season, with coach Dani Vallverdu and fitness trainer Jez Green departing, leaving Amelie Mauresmo to take sole charge of coaching duties in Melbourne.

Murray could play a fellow Briton in round one, with Kyle Edmund and Liam Broady in the final round of qualifying on Saturday.

Ward, 27, is assured of a place in the main draw after qualifying directly for the first time thanks to a solid run of form that has taken him close to the world's top 100.

Watson will be the only British woman in the singles draw in the absence of Laura Robson, who has yet to return from the wrist injury that has kept her out since last year's Australian Open.

(BBC)