Defending champion Victoria Azarenka has entered the furnace of the Rod Laver Arena to begin her bid for consecutive Australian Open titles.

The second seed is up against Sweden’s Johanna Larsson in a first-round match that began with the temperature at around 36 degrees and is expected to finish with the mercury above 40.

Tournament officials are constantly monitoring the conditions and will decide as the day heats up whether to close the Rod Laver Arena roof so play can continue in relative comfort.

Should the temperature, tipped to peak at around 42, reach an unacceptable level, play on outside courts may be halted.

As well as Azarenka, the day-two women’s program includes former world No.1 and 10th seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, fifth seeded Pole Agnieszka Radwanska with Russian third seed Maria Sharapova who makes her first appearance of the season in the night session.