Murray to face Harrison (From Free Press Series)

Murray to face Harrison

11:42pm Thursday 12th January 2012 in National Sport News © Press Association 2011

Andy Murray will open his Australian Open campaign against American Ryan Harrison.

The Scot - the beaten finalist in each of the last two years in Melbourne - will meet the 19-year-old, one of the rising stars on the ATP Tour, with the winner moving on to play either Xavier Malisse or Edouard Roger-Vasselin.

Top seed and defending champion Novak Djokovic meets Italy's Paolo Lorenzi while both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal take on qualifiers.

Murray was drawn in the same half as Djokovic, a convincing victor when they met in the final 12 months ago, and in a quarter featuring a trio of dangerous Frenchmen - Gilles Simon, Gael Monfils and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Meanwhile, Kim Clijsters will open the defence of her Australian Open title against a qualifier with Britain's Elena Baltacha a possible second-round opponent.

The draw placed Belgian Clijsters in a tricky quarter alongside Li Na - who she beat in last year's final - and world number one and top seed Caroline Wozniacki.

Baltacha takes on Stephanie Foretz Gacon first up.

Britain's Heather Watson takes on third seed Victoria Azarenka while Anne Keothavong meets Mona Barthel.

Serena Williams, a winner of 13-grand slam crowns, was paired with Tamira Paszek in the opening round and could meet fourth-seeded Russian Maria Sharapova in the quarters.

2011 US Open champion and home favourite Samantha Stosur meets Sorana Cirstea in her first match after being placed in the same quarter as Kvitova, who opens with a clash against Russia's Vera Dushevina.