Play is scheduled to commence for the 2008 Australian Open main draw within minutes, with thirty-two of the tournament’s sixty-four singles seeds to play their first round matches on the opening day.

Serena Williams and Justine Henin, two of the favourites going into the tournament, will both play their first round match on Rod Laver Arena during the day session, with their opponents being the lesser known Australian Jarmila Gajdosova and Aiko Nakamura of Japan respectively.

The most prominent of the seven Australians playing a singles match today is Alicia Molik, who will be playing the first match of the evening session against Estonian Kaia Kanepi who last year made the second round.

Following that match will be World Number two Rafael Nadal who will be looking to dethrone three time Australian Open winner Roger Federer. Nadal verses Viktor Troicki of Serbia, who won a place in the main draw through the qualifying event.

GenQ will be providing regular news updates of the 2008 Australian Open, as it launches its new and improved sports coverage.

Tags: Australian Open, Tennis