Murray to face Haase (From Salisbury Journal)

Murray to face Haase

6:40am Friday 11th January 2013 in National Sport News © Press Association 2013

Andy Murray's bid to land a second successive grand slam title will begin against Robin Haase at the Australian Open.

The Scot, who ended his long wait for a maiden major at the US Open last year, will meet the Dutchman in the opening round in Melbourne.

Murray's main challengers for the crown are likely to be world number one Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

Two-time defending champion Djokovic, who arrived at the draw on the banks of the Yarra River by boat, opens against Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu while 17-time grand slam champion Federer starts his campaign against Benoit Paire.

Murray will be delighted with the draw after being placed in the same half as Federer rather than Djokovic, who beat him in the semi-finals here last year.

However, sixth seed Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina is a dangerous scheduled opponent in the last eight.