MELBOURNE (SW): All is set for the year’s first Grand Slam as top tennis players from around the world land arrive in Melbourne for the Australian Open.
World number one Andy Murray begins his Australian Open campaign on Monday with a match against world number 95 Illya Marchenko of Ukraine. Defending women's champion Angelique Kerber and four-time men's winner Roger Federer are also in action on day one of the tournament in Melbourne. Murray, who won last year's Wimbledon and Olympic Games on his way to becoming world number one, has lost in five Australian Open finals, including in 2016 when he was beaten by Novak Djokovic.
"I obviously feel pretty confident after the way the last season finished," the BBC has quoted Murray as saying. I'm in a decent position to do it. I have a chance to win.” he added.
Serb Djokovic begins his 2017 campaign on Tuesday versus Fernando Verdasco of Spain, while America's Serena Williams, aiming to win a record-breaking seventh women's singles title faces Switzerland's Belinda Bencic.
Meanwhile, injury-hit Rafael Nadal, has said he had not played without pain for years, but that he remained optimistic of challenging for big titles again.
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