Rising British star Jack Draper will play top seed Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open first round, with Andy Murray also handed a difficult draw.
Murray faces 13th seed Matteo Berrettini, while Novak Djokovic makes his Melbourne return against Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena.
Emma Raducanu, who has been struggling with an ankle injury, has been drawn against Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch.
Raducanu, 20, could face seventh seed Coco Gauff in the second round.
The Australian Open, which is the first Grand Slam tournament of the new season, takes place at Melbourne Park between 16 and 29 January.
Draper, 21, emerged as one of the rising stars on the ATP Tour last year and the left-hander has continued his rapid progress this season by reaching the Adelaide semi-finals.
But his debut in the main draw at Melbourne Park could not have been much tougher.
Nadal, 36, is the defending champion and, although he has struggled with injuries and lost his two matches so far this year, remains a daunting prospect for most opponents.
However, the 22-time major champion would also probably not wish to start against a young talent who possesses the power and confidence of 40th-ranked Draper.
Former world number one Murray will also be cursing his misfortune.
The 35-year-old Scot impressed earlier on Thursday by beating Australian Alex de Minaur in an exhibition match at the Kooyang Classic, saying afterwards he hoped for a kind draw at Melbourne Park.
Instead he was pitched against Italy’s Berrettini, whose big serving troubles most opponents and who reached the semi-finals last year.
News Source : BBC News
