Federer drawn against Bedene in Melbourne, Nadal meets Estrella Burgos

Aljaz Bedene is the first opponent for Australian Open champion Roger Federer, while Rafael Nadal takes on Victor Estrella Burgos.

Defending champion Roger Federer faces a stiff challenge in the Australian Open first round against Aljaz Bedene.

Top seed Rafael Nadal has been drawn against Victor Estrella Burgos in the opening round of the Australian Open, while reigning champion Roger Federer meets Aljaz Bedene.

Federer defeated Nadal in a memorable five-set final last year to win his 18th Grand Slam title, before later triumphing at Wimbledon. Rafael Nadal enjoyed a resurgence of his own to succeed at the French Open and US Open, although he has struggled with a knee injury ahead of the tournament.

READ: Djokovic seeded 14th for Australian Open, Nadal top

Seeded down in 14th after not playing competitively since Wimbledon, six-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic is up against Donald Young.

Stan Wawrinka, the 2014 winner, meets Ricardas Berankis, while fourth seed Alexander Zverev has been drawn against Thomas Fabbiano. Dominic Thiem, the fifth seed, tackles Guido Pella.

Third seed Grigor Dimitrov and fifth seed David Goffin must face qualifiers whose identities are yet to be determined, while Marin Cilic, seeded sixth, faces Taiwan's Lu Yen-hsun.

Fresh from winning the Brisbane International, local hope Nick Kyrgios is up against Rogerio Dutra-Silva.

Andy Murray, a five-time finalist in Melbourne, is a notable absentee from the draw after undergoing hip surgery to correct an issue that has sidelined him since the quarter-finals of Wimbledon.