Tennis: Arise, Sir Andy, As Murray Opens Aussie Tilt

MELBOURNE, , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Jan, 2017 ) - Newly knighted Andy Murray will hope to gallop towards a maiden Australian Open title when the world number one kicks off his campaign against Illya Marchenko on Monday.

Murray holds the unwanted distinction of losing five Melbourne finals but he arrives on top of the world rankings and after being made a knight in Britain's New Year Honours. The top seed will be expected to make short work of Ukraine's Marchenko, the 29-year-old world number 95 whom he beat in straight sets in the second round in 2011.

"He's not easy. He fights very hard. He's got a great attitude," Murray said. "Plays predominantly from the back of the court and moves well. He doesn't give you too many free points." Roger Federer will play his first Grand Slam match since Wimbledon after returning from a six-month injury lay-off, the longest of his career, with a seeding of 17.

Federer, now 35, has a difficult draw and his first-round opponent on Monday is Austria's Jurgen Melzer, who won their last meeting -- albeit in 2011, in Monaco.