Victoria Azarenka begins Australian Open defence against Monica Niculescu

Victoria Azarenka will start the defence of her Australian Open title against Romanian world number 58 Monica Niculescu.

The draw for the first Grand Slam of the season was made at Melbourne Park on Friday.

Azarenka has been pitted on the same side of the draw as Serena Williams, who will open her tournament against another Romanian, Edina Gallovits-Hall.

World number two Maria Sharapova takes on Russian Olga Puchkova, while fourth seed Agniezska Radwanska faces Australian Bojana Bobusic.

Meanwhile, Britain's Laura Robson plays American world number 84 Melanie Oudin, with the winner meeting either Francesca Schiavone or Petra Kvitova - both former Grand Slam champions.

Robson's fellow Brit Heather Watson will go head to head with Romanian world number 65 Alexandra Cadantu.

The Australian Open gets underway in Melbourne on Monday.

Written by
Jack Prescott