Andy Murray has been drawn against German teenager Alexander Zverev in the first round of the Australian Open.

The world number two has been handed a comfortable opening match in Melbourne, with the 18-year-old baseliner something of an unproven opponent for the Scot.

Zverev - the youngest player in the world's top 100 - was beaten by Murray in the Hopman Cup only last week, losing in straight sets to the British number one in Perth.

The 18-year-old, measuring 6ft 6 and ranked 83rd in the world, is widely considered one of the game's rising stars.

Last year he beat world number 12 Kevin Anderson in Washington, the destructive South African who knocked Murray out of the US Open.

If the Scot comes through unscathed, another Australian powerhouse Sam Groth could await in the second round, with Portugal's Joao Sousa a potential opponent in round three.

The draw means the Dunblane ace could face home hope Bernard Tomic in the fourth round, before setting up a quarter-final clash against David Ferrer.

Then (if all goes according to seeding) Murray would come up against Stan Wawrinka in the semi-finals, and Novak Djokovic in the final on January 31.

Murray is aiming to win his first Australian Open title having made it to the competition's final four times before - where he has lost to Roger Federer once and Novak Djokovic three times.

However, Murray could miss the tournament completely should his wife Kim go into labour at any point over its duration - with the Scot admitting that he would fly back him in such a case.

"I'd go home. For sure, yes," Murray told the Daily Mail. "It's obviously important.

"I want to make sure at the beginning I am there as much as I can be to try and help out, just be there for whatever is really required of me."