The first major of the year gets underway next Monday, January 20th in Melbourne.
Coco Gauff - the American teenager and rising star of the sport - is one half of the standout first-round draw at this year's Australian Open as she faces Venus Williams, just six months on from sensationally defeating the iconic veteran at the same stage of Wimbledon.
Meanwhile, reigning women's titleholder Naomi Osaka will start her defence against the Czech, Marie Bouzkova, with the possibility of facing either Gauff or Williams in the third round.
Home favourite and world number one Ash Barty gets her tournament underway against Ukraine's Lesia Tsurenko, with the reigning French Open champion looking to better her quarter-final appearance in Melbourne last year.
On the men's side, the defending champion Novak Djokovic starts against the German, Jan-Lennard Struff, with Roger Federer beginning his campaign against the American, Steve Johnson. Djokovic and Federer share the same half of the draw.
Top seed and world number one Rafael Nadal has a first-round date with Bolivia's Hugo Dellien. The Spaniard could have a blockbuster fourth-round tie with the precocious Nick Kyrgios, with the 23rd seed starting against the Italian, Lorenzo Sonego.
Kyrgios, who made news earlier this month by stating that he would donate $200 per ace during the Australian summer season for all those affected by the bushfires, is his country's new number one following Alex De Minaur's withdrawal from the event.
Elsewhere, Andy Murray has lot his fitness battle to play in his first major singles event 12 months on from standing on-court in Melbourne watching his peers pay tribute to him on the cusp of his retirement. Despite Murray's absence this time around, the three-time grand slam winner's return from the brink has been nothing short of remarkable.
Serena Williams, who is looking to finally equal Margaret Court's record of 24 grand slam titles, has been drawn against China's Shuai Zhang in the first round. The American had gone three years without winning a title at all until she beat compatriot Jessica Pegula at the Auckland Open earlier this month. Williams has lost four consecutive grand slam finals in straight sets since winning the 2017 Australian Open.
Long-time Williams rival and the 2008 Australian Open champion, Maria Sharapova has been granted a wildcard in Melbourne this year. Sharapova, ranked 147 in the world, will face the 19th seeded Croatian, Donna Vekic.
Greek sensation Stefanos Tsitsipas, winner of the prestigious season-ending ATP Finals in London and slayer of Federer at last year's Australian Open, will take on Salvatore Caruso of Italy in the opening round.
The men's and women's singles draws are complete:
Men's draw 👉 https://t.co/525e2Zgnnu
Women's draw 👉 https://t.co/vXYoxLua5j #AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/frhS4bhz1L— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 16, 2020
Crisis in Australia
The 2020 Australian Open takes place amid the bushfires which have devastated the country since the turn of the year.
As a result of the poor air quality emanating from the unforgiving conditions, a number of matches have been impacted. Just last week, the Slovenian player Dalila Jakupovic was forced to retire mid-match during her Australian Open qualifier after enduring a sustained on-court coughing fit.
Eugenie Bouchard, the 2014 Wimbledon finalist, had similar problems in her encounter and was forced to take a number of medical breaks before eventually beating You Xiaodi of China.
The tennis world has gathered to raise money for relief, with a number of stars taking part in Rally for Relief, including; Federer, Djokovic, Nadal, Kyrgios, Caroline Wozniacki, Petra Kvitova, Serena Williams and a number of others, raising nearly $5m through a bushfire appeal charity match in the process at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.
Highlights of the Australian Open will be shown throughout the tournament on BBC. The finals will take place the weekend of February 1st and 2nd.
Australian Open men's seeds:
1. Rafael Nadal
2. Novak Djokovic
3. Roger Federer
4. Daniil Medvedev
5. Dominic Thiem
6. Stefanos Tsitsipas
7. Alexander Zverev
8. Matteo Berrettini
9. Roberto Bautista
10. Gael Monfils
11. David Goffin
12. Fabio Fognini
13. Denis Shapovalov
14. Diego Schwartzman
15. Stan Wawrinka
16. Karen Khachanov
17. Grigor Dimitrov
18. Andrey Rublev
19. John Isner
20. Alex De Minaur
21. Felix Auger-Aliassime
22. Benoit Paire
23. Guido Pella
24. Nick Kyrgios
25. Dusan Lajovic
26. Nikoloz Basilashvili
27. Borna Coric
28. Pablo Carreno Busta
29. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
30. Dan Evans
31. Taylor Fritz
32. Hubert Hurkacz
Australian Open women's seeds:
1. Ashleigh Barty
2. Karolina Pliskova
3. Naomi Osaka
4. Simona Halep
5. Elina Svitolina
6. Belinda Bencic
7. Petra Kvitova
8. Serena Williams
9. Kiki Bertens
10. Madison Keys
11. Aryna Sabalenka
12. Johanna Konta
13. Petra Martic
14. Sofia Kenin
15. Marketa Vondrousova
16. Elise Mertens
17. Angelique Kerber
18. Alison Riske
19. Donna Vekic
20. Karolina Muchova
21. Amanda Anisimova
22. Maria Sakkari
23. Dayan Yastremska
24. Sloane Stephens
25. Ekaterina Alexandrova
26. Danielle Collins
27. Qiang Wang
28. Anette Kontaveit
29. Elena Rybakina
30. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
31. Anastasija Sevastova
32. Barbora Strycova
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