Top seed Caroline Wozniacki will play 107th-ranked local Anastasia Rodionova in the first round of the Australian Open when she begins her bid for a maiden Grand Slam title.
Kim Clijsters will kick off her Australian Open title defence against a qualifier, while second seed Petra Kvitova will play 84th-ranked Russian Vera Dushevina.
Serena Williams, who has played only one injury-interrupted tournament in the lead-up following her US Open final appearance, faces a test against 44th-ranked Austrian Tamira Paszek.
World number four Maria Sharapova, the 2008 champion, also faces a tricky first opponent in 67th-ranked Argentine Gisela Dulko.
US Open champion Sam Stosur, Australia's top hope of a home Grand Slam winner, will play Romanian world number 60 Sorana Cirstea.
© 2025