The top seeds Angelique Kerber and Andy Murray, as well as Australia’s leading men return to play on day three of the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Bernard Tomic and Nick Kyrgios will close play with late second-round matches on Margaret Court Arena and Hisense Area respectively.

But it’s the tour’s most experienced woman, Venus Williams, who has been given the honour of opening play on centre court on Wednesday.

Williams, playing in her 73rd grand slam – an all-time record – will take on Swiss world no.112 Stefanie Voegele at Rod Laver Arena.

World no.1 Angelique Kerber’s meeting with Carina Witthoeft follows, before Roger Federer takes on American rising star Noah Rubin.

Garbine Muguruza plays US hope Samantha Crawford in the night session on Melbourne Park’s main stadium, to be closed by Murray’s match with Russian Andrey Rublev.

On Margaret Court Arena, Ashleigh Barty hopes to continue her tennis revival against Shelby Rogers.

Tomic’s meeting with claycourter Victor Estrella Burgos follows.

Kyrgios returns to the cavernous Hisense Arena stage to take on journeyman Italian Andreas Seppi.

Teenage talent Alex De Minaur has an esteemed warm-up act on show court two.

Venus and sister Serena Williams will begin their doubles assault on the outside court before local prodigy De Minaur’s date with American Sam Querrey.