That's it from us for today – plenty more news, views and analysis coming. Keep an eye on the website and bring on round 1!
Australian Open 2019 draw: See who plays who in the first Grand Slam of the year
Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic were all smiles during their exhibition match ... we're tipping they won't be smiling after seeing their first round opponents. SEE HOW THE AUSSIES FARED.
Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic have paid a heavy price for slipped rankings, drawing Wimbledon finalists Milos Raonic and Marin Cilic in horror first-round Australian Open pairings.
Unseeded, the controversial duo have fallen out of the top 20 after troubled 2018 seasons – and now face massive challenges to survive the first Melbourne Park hurdle.
James Duckworth also faces a huge task with an opening-round appointment with second seed Rafael Nadal.
Alex de Minaur landed in 17-time major winner Nadal’s section and is seeded to meet the Spaniard in the third round, providing he handles Portugal’s Pedro Sousa first-up.
Australia’s top women fared much better with 15th seed Ash Barty to start against Thai Luksika Kumkhum and Daria Gavrilova against Slovenian Tamara Zidansek.
But there were daunting draws for Ajla Tomljanovic, who plays Briton Johanna Konta, and teenager Destanee Aaiva, who faces 17th seed Madison Keys first up.
Defending champion Roger Federer, chasing a record seventh Open crowns, will open against Denis Istomin.
Owner of a record 20 majors, Federer would reach the century milestone of titles if he wins a third successive Norman Brookes Challenge Cup.
“Ninety nine is already an incredible number and I could live happily on 99 but when you’re so closet,” Federer, 37, said.
Roger's road to ðŸ†
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 10, 2019
R1 Istomin
R2 Qualifier
R3 Monfils
R4 Tsitsipas
QF Cilic
SF Nadal
F Djokovic#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/9WX1PRCMhQ
“Every tournament I go to we will talk about it but I don't want to think too far ahead. Reaching 100 will be truly special for me.”
Winner of the past two Open titles, Federer said Melbourne Park “has been a very emotional place for me to play.”
“I’m surprised I’m still at this level,” the Swiss admitted.
Top seed Novak Djokovic, locked with Federer in a race to break a three-way tie with fellow six-time winner Roy Emerson, starts against a qualifier but could play Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the second round.
Women’s defending champion Caroline Wozniacki faces Belgian Alison van Uytvanck and could play Maria Sharapova in a blockbuster third round.
Serena Williams starts against German Tatjana Maria, while World No 1 Simona Halep opens against Estonian Kaia Kanepi.
Thanasi Kokkinakis, Naiktha Bains and Astra Sharma will contest final-round qualifying on Friday intent on reaching the main draw.
The Aussies
15-Ash Barty v Luksika Kumkhum (Tha)
Daria Gavrilova v Tamara Zidansek (Slo)
Ajla Tomljanovic v Johanna Konta (Gbr)
Sam Stosur v Dayana Yastremska (Ukr)
Priscilla Hon v Qualifier
Kimberly Birrell v Qualifier
Destanee Aiava v 17-Madison Keys (US)
Ellen Perez v Wang Yafan (Chn)
Zoe Hives v Bethanie Mattek-Sands (US)
27-Alex de Minaur v Pedro Sousa (Por)
Nick Kyrgios v 16-Milos Raonic (Can)
John Millman v Federico Delbonis (Arg)
Matt Ebden v Jan-Lennard Struff (Ger)
Bernard Tomic v 6-Marin Cilic (Cro)
Jordan Thompson v Feliciano Lopez (Spa)
Jason Kubler v Thomas Fabbiano (Ita)
James Duckworth v 2-Rafael Nadal (Spa)
Alexei Popyrin v Mischa Zverev (Ger)
Marc Polmans v Robin Haase (Ned)
Alex Bolt v Jack Sock (US)
Updates
It's not a good draw got NK or BT let's be honest but stranger things have happened. We all know how unpredictable Grand Slams can be. James Duckworth also faces a huge task with an opening-round appointment with second seed Rafael Nadal.
Defending champion Roger Federer, chasing a record seventh Open crowns, will open against Denis Istomin.
Owner of a record 20 majors, Federer would reach the century milestone of titles if he wins a third successive Norman Brookes Challenge Cup.
“Ninety nine is already an incredible number and I could live happily on 99 but when you’re so closet,” Federer, 37, said.
“Every tournament I go to we will talk about it but I don't want to think too far ahead. Reaching 100 will be truly special for me.”
Am also intrigued by Djokovic's draw. We know how good he is but man alive, opening against a qualifier and then a possible second round with Tsonga. Also has possible clashes with Shapovalov and Goffin.
Australian women
Barty (15) v Kumkhum
Gavrilova v Zidansek
Stosur v Yastremska
Tomljanovic v Konta
Aiava v Keys (17)
Hives v Mattek-Sands
Perez v Wang
Hon v qualifier
Birrell v qualifer
This quarter!
Kerber v Hercog
Vekic v Mladenovic
Garcia v quali
Goerges v Collins
Stephens v Townsend
Bertens v Riske
Konta v Tomljanovic
Wozniacki v van Uytvanck
Strycova v Putintseva
Barty v Kumkhum
Ostapenko v Sakkari
Sharapova v quali
Gavrilova v Zidansek
The top quarter of this draw is savage – both Williams
Halep v Kanepi
Serena v Tatjana
Buzzarnescu v Venus
Zheng v Muguruza
Jakupovic v Giorgi
Pliskova v quali
Konta v Tomljanovic
Wozniacki v van Uytvanck
Strycova v Putintseva
Barty v Kumkhum
Ostapenko v Sakkari
Sharapova v quali
Gavrilova v Zidansek
Osaka v Azaranka third round?
Osaka v Linette
Wang v Ferro
Keys v Aiava
Cibulkova v Zhang
Siegemund v Azarenka
Sevastova v Barthel
Svitolina v quali
Trouble for Halep
The top quarter of this draw is savage – both Williams
Halep v Kanepi
Serena v Tatjana
Buzzarnescu v Venus
Zheng v Muguruza
Jakupovic v Giorgi
Pliskova v quali
Join the conversation
World-famous singer makes pro tennis debut
He once vowed to never stop party rocking but it appears he hasn’t listened to his own advice, as the iconic singer made his professional tennis debut, aged 49.
Read more
Shock, tears as ex-world No. 1 retires on spot
A much-loved tennis champ’s career has ended in sad scenes when she grabbed a microphone on court and left spectators in tears.
Read more