Paying the price for narrowly missing a seeding, Ajla Tomljanović has copped a horror Australian Open draw.

The Australian meets Argentina's world number 192 Nadia Podoroska in the first round, an easy match on paper, but Podoroska is a grand slam semifinalist and was formerly the world number 39 before injury hampered her progress.

Should Tomljanović advance, things will get even more treacherous for the world number 35.

Tomljanović could face 2020 champion Sofia Kenin or two-time Open winner Victoria Azarenka in round two — Azaranka and Kenin are the only two active women's champions in the draw.

It won't get any easier if the 2022 Wimbledon and US Open quarterfinalist makes it to the third round, with in-form 10th seed Madison Keys — a semifinal loser to Ash Barty last year — potentially waiting there.

Tomljanović could also play sixth seed Maria Sakkari in the last 16 and world No.3 Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals.

Tomljanović must be cursing her wretched luck.

The 29-year-old had been in line for a precious first-time grand slam seeding at her home major until having to withdraw from the season-opening United Cup with a knee injury.

As a result, Tomljanović dropped two places in the rankings on Monday, the day the seedings were announced.

A star of Australia's charge to last year's Billie Jean King Cup final, Tomljanović enjoyed her finest season in 2022.

In addition to famously ending Serena Williams's decorated career in New York, Tomljanović became the first Australian woman since former world number one Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1979 to reach the quarterfinals at both Wimbledon and the US Open in a calendar year.

Kyrgios faces tough Russian first up

On the men's side of the draw, Nick Kyrgios will meet Russian world number 99 Roman Safiullin in the first round, while fellow home seed Alex de Minaur will start against a qualifier.

If he wins his opener, Kyrgios is certain to face a Frenchman next — either veteran Richard Gasquet or talented youngster Ugo Humbert.

Which dangerman Kyrgios could strike in the third round was the most compelling question to be answered at Thursday's draw in Melbourne.

Seeded 19th, Kyrgios is guaranteed to avoid a top-eight rival until at least the second week — if he makes it that far.

Potentially standing in the way of Australia's chief title hope and a place in the last 16 were a batch of exciting youngsters and some of the heaviest hitters in men's tennis.

He landed 19-year-old ninth seed Holger Rune, the Scandinavian prodigy who has just gatecrashed the world's top 10 after a breakout 2022 highlighted by a run to the French Open quarterfinals.

If it is not Rune, Kyrgios could face a testing third-round encounter with crafty American serve-volleyer Maxime Cressy.

Novak Djokovic will meet Spanish world number 75 Roberto Carballés Baena in the first round, with Rafael Nadal meeting rising British world number 40, Jack Draper.

AAP/ABC