Australia’s Ashleigh Barty and Samantha Stosur will start their Australian Open campaigns on Monday with contrasting mindsets.

Stosur, Australia’s only seed in men’s or women’s singles, admits to feeling the weight of expectations ahead of her afternoon opening round clash with unseeded Czech Klara Zakopalova.

By contrast, 17-year-old Barty will take an air of excitement into her night match against world No.1 Serena Williams, which few expect her to win.

“This is what we all train for in the pre-season. It’s really exciting to have that opportunity first up,” Barty said.

Stosur will have to overcome not only her own disappointing previous record at her home grand slam event, but turn the tables on Zakopalova just three days after losing to her at the Hobart International.

Earlier, another Australian Jarmila Gajdosova will face German ninth seed Angelique Kerber in the tournament’s opening match in Rod Laver Arena.

Gajdosova will be trying to notch her first Australian Open singles win and break a staggering run of eight straight first-round losses.

Casey Dellacqua, who earned her Open berth by winning a wildcard play-off in December, will face Russian former world No.2 Vera Zvonareva.

Teenage Australian Open debutant Jordan Thompson takes on Polish 20th seed Jerzy Janowicz.

The other two Australians playing on Monday are Matt Ebden, who will play Frenchman Nicolas Mahut, and Sam Groth, who is up against Canadian 28th seed Vasek Pospisil.