Australian-born Brit Johanna Konta will be hoping to continue her red-hot run of form when she takes on Japan’s Naomi Osaka in the opening match on Rod Laver Arena on Thursday.

Seeded ninth at the Australian Open, Konta defeated Canadian star Eugenie Bouchard and world No.3 Agnieszka Radwanska on her way to the Sydney International title in a flawless preparation for the season-opening grand slam.

Konta began her Australian Open campaign with a clinical straight-sets win over Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens and could face a tantalising clash against 17th seed Caroline Wozniaki in the third round.

In other women’s draw highlights on day four, No.2 seed Serena Williams faces Lucie Safarova, fifth seed Karolina Pliskova takes on Russia’s Ana Blinkova and No.6 seed Dominika Cibulkova clashes with Su-Wei Hsieh of Chinese Tapei.

In the men’s draw, No.2 seed Novak Djokovic continues his title defence against Denis Istomin, 2009 Australian Open winner Rafael Nadal faces beaten finalist Marcos Baghdatis and third seed Milos Raonic meets Gilles Muller on Margaret Court Arena.

Jordan Thompson, Andrew Whittington and Daria Gavrilova are the Australians on court in singles action.

Thompson will take on eighth-seeded Austrian Dominic Thiem, Whittington faces No.20 seed Ivo Karlovic and Gavrilova meets Croatia’s Ana Konjuh.