Australian Open 2013: Murray, Robson and Watson Handed Promising Draws

Andy Murray quest to become the only first-time grand slam winner to win a second consecutive title at the Australian Open begins against Netherlands' Robin Haase.

The reigning US Open and Olympic singles champion is looking to make history in Melbourne, a task made all the easier by eluding world No.1 Novak Djokovic potentially until the final, with Roger Federer a theoretical opponent in the last-four.

Murray has a 1-1 win-loss record against the 25 year old Haase, defeating him in the 2011 US Open after having lost in two sets in Rotterdam three years earlier.

But the Briton possess a greater threat this time around and in the absence of the again injury stricken Rafa Nadal, is among the favourites for the first grand slam of the year.

Should Murray, who retained his Brisbane International title last week, overcome Haase he is likely to face Portugal's Joao Sousa in round two, No.25 seed Florian Mayer in round three before a meeting with Gilles Simon, who pulled out of the recent Sydney International with a neck injury.

Former US Open champion and Olympic bronze medallist from London 2012, Juan Martin del Potro, is likely to be in wait in the quarter final, a victory which would set up another duel with Federer.

Both the 17-time grand slam winner and Djokovic have been handed French first round opponents in the form of Benoit Paire and Paul Henri-Mathieu.

Both James Ward and Jamie Baker are through to the final round of qualifying for the main draw, but Johanna Konta is out after losing in three sets to Zhou Yi-Miao.

In the women's draw, British pair Laura Robson and Heather Watson have been handed opponents ranked in the 80s in the first round.

Robson faces American Melanie Oudin, whom she beat in qualifying for the Australian Open main draw last year in the pair's only meeting, while Watson takes on Romanian Alexandra Cadantu.

The duo were automatic entrants to the Australian Open for the first time after becoming the first female British pair inside the top 50 for 25 years.

Former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova is likely to await Robson in round two should she progress, with Mona Barthel a potential next round opponent for Watson.

Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, who met three times in 2012, are kept apart in the women's draw, while Caroline Wozniaki against the big-hitting Sabine Lisicki represents the match of the first round.