Temperatures are expected to soar in Melbourne on day two of the Australian Open tennis tournament.
As Kristina Kukolja reports, it's a day that will put to the test some of the youngest and oldest competitors in the Grand Slam.
21-year-old James Duckworth is the first of the Australian players on court today, up against former world number one, Roger Federer of Switzerland, in a daunting first round of the men's singles draw.
Also in play are fellow wildcard entrants, teenagers Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis, and Lleyton Hewitt - a veteran of the game revived by his victory at the Brisbane International this month.
Meeting for the second time in their professional careers, up-and comer Bernard Tomic, is hoping to outplay the world's top tennis player, Rafael Nadal of Spain.
The two have met in Melbourne once before, in 2011.
Nadal emerged victorious, but SBS Radio's Slovak program journalist and tennis commentator, Andrej Bucko, says Tomic has been building on his on-court experience ever since.
"He played here in later rounds, he played Federer, he won a tournament in Sydney last year and has been in the final this year, and has been already seeded at Grand Slam tournaments. He belongs in the top 30, no question about that. So, these days he can give a fight to Nadal supported by a big crowd. But experience speaks for Nadal."
Seeded players France Jo Wilfried Tsonga, Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina and Canadian rising star Milos Raonic will also be in action.
And last year's Australian Open men's runner up, Andy Murray, is set to begin his quest for the championship title, taking on world number 112 - Japan's Goe Soeda.
The British 4th seed, who was absent from the game for part of last year due to injury, says he's been studying his opponent's game.
"The Japanese players, now a lot of them are fairly similar in the way that they play: they play from the baseline, they like to take the ball fairly early, they hit quite flat backhands maybe a bit better. And they compete well, so I need to be ready. I haven't played a lot of matches, so I'm not going to look past anyone."
In the women's singles competition, fifth seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki and Russian number 3 seed Maria Sharapova will make their first appearances on-court in the 2014 Australian Open.
Joining them is reigning champion Victoria Azarenka, who'll play Johanna Larsson of Sweden.
With Melbourne's summer heatwave predicted to peak, the Belarusian second seed says she's become accustomed to the Australian playing conditions.
"Well, I've been here playing for the last eight years, so it's not a new thing to play in the heat, and I actually enjoy that. Not all the time probably, but it's nice to get some sun."
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