Tennis News : Murray to face Harrison in opener

Australian Open

• Venue: Melbourne Park


• Date: 16-29 January


• Coverage: Watch live on Eurosport; singles finals and one men's semi-final on BBC Two/Red Button/HD channel/website; listen on BBC Radio 5 live; text commentaries and reports on the BBC Sport website

Murray was beaten by Novak Djokovic in last year's final

British number one Andy Murray will play Ryan Harrison of the United States in the first round of the Australian Open, with Novak Djokovic a potential semi-final opponent.

Fourth seed Murray meets world number 84 Harrison for the first time.

In the women's singles, Elena Baltacha meets Stephanie Foretz Gacon of France, with reigning champion Kim Clijsters a potential opponent in the second round.

Fellow Brit Heather Watson takes on third seed Victoria Azarenka.

The third British woman in the draw is Anne Keothavong, who will meet Mona Barthel.

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I've been playing the best tennis of my life especially in the first six months. It probably started here in Australia

Novak Djokovic

Murray, the beaten finalist in Melbourne in each of the last two years, enjoyed the perfect preparation for the tournament by winning the Brisbane International last weekend.

If he beats the 19-year-old, the Brit will play either Xavier Malisse or Edouard Roger-Vasselin.

Top seed and defending champion Djokovic faces Paolo Lorenzi of Italy.

World number two Rafael Nadal and world number three Roger Federer will play qualifiers.

Djokovic, who has won in Melbourne twice, including capturing his maiden Grand Slam in 2008, has changed his preparations this year, playing fewer tournaments than he has done in the past.

WHO IS RYAN HARRISON?

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• Born 7 May 1992 in Shreveport, Louisiana, United States


• Turned pro in 2007


• Ranked 84 in the world


• Qualified for 2010 US Open and defeated the 15th seed Ivan Ljubicic in the first round, his first win in a Grand Slam event


• Won the 2011 Honolulu Challenger, beating Alex Kuznetsov in the final - his sole career tournament win


• Reached the second round of Wimbledon 2011, losing to David Ferrer

"I've been here since Wednesday which is quite early [for me]," said Djokovic. "The last five or six years I didn't arrive this early.

"I haven't played any little tournaments. I played a lot of matches in 2011 and I feel comfortable preparing an extra week and I hope it works.

"I've been playing the best tennis of my life, especially in the first six months of last year. It probably started here in Australia. I only lost one set and it gave me a lot of confidence.

"Mentally, I gained that necessary confidence in 2011. I began to believe I could win the major tournaments along with the big names Federer and Nadal.

"They have been the two most dominant players in the game. They have been my two biggest rivals aside from Andy Murray."

Nadal and Federer have been paired in the same half of a Grand Slam draw for the first time since the 2005 French Open.

PREVIOUS WINNERS

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Men

• 2011 - Novak Djokovic

• 2010 - Roger Federer

• 2009 - Rafael Nadal

• 2008 - Novak Djokovic

• 2007 - Roger Federer

Women

• 2011 - Kim Clijsters

• 2010 - Serena Williams

• 2009 - Serena Williams

• 2008 - Maria Sharapova

• 2007 - Serena Williams

In the women's draw, world number one Caroline Wozniacki will open her campaign against Australia's Anastasia Rodionova.

Reigning champion Clijsters, who retired midway through her Brisbane International semi-final against Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova with a hip injury earlier this month, faces a qualifier.

"When I was younger everyone was pencilling top seeds in the semi-finals and quarter-finals," said Clijsters.

"That's totally changed now. You have to be focused from round one. There are new, upcoming players who I've never played that you have to be aware of.

"The one who is most focussed with a little bit of luck will be the winner.

Speaking about her first round opponent Stephanie Foretz, Baltacha said: "I won't take her for granted but it's definitely a match I think I can win.

"I lost to her a couple of times early in my career but I'm a different player now and a different me. I feel great just now and I'm ready to play."

And she added that she's relishing the chance to play Clijsters.

"We'll see how both of us go in the first round but obviously it would be great to play Kim," she added. "I've got a good record of winning matches in grand slams over the last couple of years and I'd like to keep that up, so all I'm think about at the moment is that first round match."

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