Djokovic, Williams warm up :… Ahead of Aussies

Defending champions Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams will be hoping to get the Australian Open off to a sizzling start when they play back-to-back on Rod Laver Arena on today.

The weather also looks set to do its part in keeping temperatures high from the off at Melbourne Park with peaks of 37 Celsius (98.6 Fahrenheit) forecast for the opening day of the year's first grand slam.

The two dominant players of last year, Djokovic and Williams are no strangers to the heat of the Australian summer, of course, but sweltering conditions might help expose any flaws in their early season form or fitness.

That looks less likely to be the case with Djokovic, who opens his campaign to match Roy Emerson's record tally of six men's singles titles against South Korea's Chung Hyeon.

Coming off a year in which he won 11 tournaments and three of the four majors, the 28-year-old Serbian ironman should safely negotiate his opening match whatever the weather.

The condition of Williams, who faces unpredictable Italian Camila Giorgi in her opener in the second match on Rod Laver, is more open to question.

The American has barely swung a racket since the semi-final defeat to Italy's Roberta Vinci at last September's U.S. Open denied her a shot at the single season grand slam. Reuters