Melbourne, 17 January 2011 | AAP

Hobart International winner Jarmila Groth will aim to keep her winning form rolling when she faces a challenging start to her Australian Open campaign on Monday night.

One of four Australians playing on the opening day, Groth will meet Belgian 21st seed Yanina Wickmayer in the frist night match at Rod Laver Arena.

Earlier, three wildcard recipients – Jelena Dokic, Peter Luczak and Olivia Rogowska – will play their first round matches.

Dokic will meet Czech Zuzana Ondraskova, before Luczak follows her onto Margaret Court Arena, to take on 17th-seeded Croatian Ivan Ljubicic.

Rogowska’s first round opponent is Russian Evgeniya Rodina.

Swiss men’s defending champion Roger Federer begins his quest for a 17th grand slam title against Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko in a day match at Rod Laver Arena.

Women’s 2008 champion Maria Sharapova will play in the opening match on that court, with the 14th seed to take on Thailand’s Tamarine Tanasugarn.

World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki will then start her bid for a maiden grand slam title, the Dane to play Argentina’s Gisela Dulko.

Also in action on Monday is last year’s runner-up, Belgian Justine Henin, who will meet India’s Sania Mirza, a former top-20 player whose ranking has slumped to the extent that she had to make it through qualifying to earn a crack at Henin.

Fourth-seeded American Venus Williams will play Italy’s Sara Errani.

Men’s third seed and 2008 winner Novak Djokovic begins his bid for a second major title by clashing with Spain’s Marcel Granollers, while eighth seed Andy Roddick plays Dutchman Thiemo De Bakker.