Scotland’s Andy Murray has been handed a tough opening match at the Australian Open after being drawn against Spanish 22nd seed Roberto Bautista Agut.
The Brit is now 230th in the world after spending the majority of 2018 on the sidelines due to a hip injury.
The two-time Wimbledon winner has yet to find his best form since surgery and he will be up against it when the tournament starts on January 14.
He warmed up for the event with a practice match against Novak Djokovic but he only won two games on Thursday. Murray looked to be struggling with his movement and only held serve on one occasion.
The 31-year-old missed last year’s tournament in Melbourne and he is as high as 41.00 to lift the trophy.
Fellow Brit Kyle Edmund was also given a tough draw and he will meet former Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych.
Edmund reached the semi-finals in 2018 but he will need to be at his best to go all the way this time around. Defending men’s champion Roger Federer plays Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin in his opener, while Rafael Nadal meets Australian wildcard James Duckworth.
World number one Djokovic will face a qualifier in the first round, before potentially meeting Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the second round. Federer and Djokovic are aiming to become the first men to win a seventh singles title in Melbourne, with both tied on six alongside Aussie great Roy Emerson.
Djokovic remains 2.20 favourite, while Federer is priced at 5.50.
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