Australian Open: Questions linger as ailing Nadal begins bid for record Grand Slam

The Spaniard, who has faced issues with his back in recent weeks, will take on Laslo Djere of Serbia in his first round match on Tuesday

Rafael Nadal at a training session in Melbourne.

Rafa Nadal begins his pursuit of a record 21st Grand Slam title at the Australian Open under an injury cloud against Serbian Laslo Djere on Tuesday.

Nadal's preparations have been hampered by a back injury that ruled him out of the ATP Cup, with the Spaniard admitting on the eve of the season's opening major that he had been "suffering" for over two weeks.

Nadal, who has not triumphed at Melbourne Park since 2009, said the injury had restricted his movement in practice, but he will be still be confident of taking down the 25-year-old Djere, who has never won a main draw match at the Australian Open.

Fourth seed Daniil Medvedev , who led Russia to the ATP Cup title on Sunday, faces big-serving Canadian Vasek Pospisil , while fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas meets veteran Frenchman Gilles Simon in a clash of the generations.

In the women's draw, top-ranked and home favourite Ash Barty , fresh off her triumph in the Yarra Valley Classic warm-up event, opens against Danka Kovinic in the night session on Rod Laver Arena.

The 2019 French Open champion, who was a semifinalist here last year, is hoping to deliver Australia its first Grand Slam singles winner on home soil since Chris O'Neil in 1978.

American Sofia Kenin will start a Grand Slam title defence for the first time in her career when she faces Australian Maddison Inglis, while last year's finalist Garbine Muguruza plays Russian lucky loser Margarita Gasparyan.