Murray handed Anderson test

Scot to kick-off campaign against South African qualifier

Last updated: 16th January 2010  

Murray handed Anderson test

Murray: Begins title charge on Monday

Also see

British number one Andy Murray will begin his assault on the Australian Open title with a first round clash against South African giant Kevin Anderson.

World number five Murray had not known the identity of his opening opponent after he was handed a tie with a qualifier at Friday's draw ceremony.

And the Scot will not know much about his 147th-ranked opponent, having never met him on tour, although what will be apparent once the players step on court on Monday will be their sizeable height difference.

The 23-year-old Anderson stands at 6ft 8in, five inches taller than Murray, and earned his place in the main draw after beating Germany's Simon Stadler 6-2 6-4.

Murray-Anderson will be the third match on the main Rod Laver Arena court at Melbourne Park on Monday, after women's matches featuring Maria Sharapova and Kim Clijsters.

Reward

The match is therefore likely to start between 0300 and 0400 GMT.

Defending champion Rafael Nadal will open the night session at 0800 GMT when he takes on home hope Peter Luczak.

The first Briton in action on Monday will be Elena Baltacha - she will open play against Pauline Parmentier on Court Seven at 0001 GMT. Katie O'Brien will meet Patricia Mayr later in the day.

Meanwhile, Ireland's Louk Sorensen was rewarded for reaching his first Grand Slam with an opening tie against world number 101 Yen-Hsun Lu, of Chinese-Taipei.

Sorensen will play the fourth and final match on Court 11 on Monday.