Australia’s only other seeded player, de Minaur, landed in the same quarter as Kyrgios and Djokovic, but the No.22 seed – who made the fourth round last year – must first defeat qualifer Yu Hsiou Hsu.

Among the other marquee first-round encounters are Matteo Berrettini-Andy Murray, Rublev-Dominic Thiem, Sebastian Korda-Cristian Garin, and Thanasi Kokkinakis-Fabio Fognini.

On the women’s side, world No.1 Iga Swiatek drew Germany’s Julie Niemeier in her opener, while WTA Finals champion Caroline Garcia is on the opposite side of the draw and faces qualifier Katherine Sebov.

Garcia might need to account for fellow French player Alize Cornet, a quarter-finalist at Melbourne Park last year, in the second round.

Australia’s top-ranked woman Ajla Tomljanovic’s bid to match retired defending champion Ash Barty’s heroics from last year begin against Argentinian Nadia Podoroska, but her path beyond that is littered with danger.

The winner between past Australian Open champions Victoria Azarenka or Sofia Kenin will be Tomljanovic’s second-round opponent.

Madison Keys (third round), Maria Sakkari (fourth round), Jessica Pegula (quarter-finals), Swiatek (semi-finals) and Ons Jabeur, Garcia or Aryna Sabalenka are the leading final contenders on the other side.

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The player Barty beat to win the 2022 title, American Danielle Collins, will take on Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya in the first round.

There could be a match-up of young guns if Brit Emma Raducanu and seventh-seeded American Coco Gauff win their openers, while Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk and 28th seed Amanda Anisimova drew each other in a brutal first-round clash.

Young Australian wildcards Olivia Gadecki and Talia Gibson drew qualifiers Polina Kudermetova and Clara Burel respectively for their grand slam main draw debuts.

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