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 A rising star of Asian tennis, 19-year-old Chung was voted the ATP's
most improved player last season after his ranking soared into the
top 60 from 173 at the end of 2014.
"That's not going to be an easy match," American super-coach Paul
Annacone told reporters at Melbourne Park during the draw ceremony
on Friday.
"Novak's going to be tested right from the start."
The iron-willed Serb otherwise enjoys a kind run in the draw's top
quarter, with a potential last eight match-up against seventh seed
Kei Nishikori his first against a top-10 player.
Second seed Andy Murray, runner-up to Djokovic last year, will play
another emerging talent in 18-year-old Belgian Alexander Zverev as
the Briton bids for a first trophy in Melbourne after four trips to
the final.
Third seed Roger Federer faces 117th-ranked Georgian Nikoloz
Basilashvili in the first round while compatriot Stan Wawrinka, the
2014 champion and fourth seed, plays Russian veteran Dmitry
Tursunov, now ranked 265 in the world.
Fifth seed Rafa Nadal, the 2009 winner, has an all-Spanish encounter
in the first round against Fernando Verdasco before a possible
quarter-final against Wawrinka.
In the women's draw, defending champion Williams has hardly swung a
racket in anger since the U.S. Open but will need to be on her game
against hard-hitting Giorgi, who at world number 35, is the
highest-ranked unseeded player.
Williams pulled out of the leadup Hopman Cup in Perth midway through
her first match with soreness in the same left knee that troubled
her during the U.S. Open.
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But after parading the winner's trophy with men's champion Djokovic
through Melbourne Park on Friday, she declared herself ready for her
bid for a seventh title.
"Everything's actually (going) really well," the 34-year-old said at
the draw ceremony. "I'm feeling really well and I'm excited about
(the tournament)."
Fifth seed Maria Sharapova, runner-up to Williams last year and
champion in 2008, has a first-round tie against 58th-ranked Japanese
Nao Hibino.
Second seed Simona Halep, who is battling a nagging Achilles
problem, faces a qualifier first up while third seed Garbine
Muguruza meets 86th-ranked Estonian Annett Kontaveit.
Two-time champion Victoria Azarenka, seeded 14th, looms as a
dangerous floater in the draw and will play 44th-ranked Belgian
Alison Van Uytvanck.
Retiring men's former world number one Lleyton Hewitt, playing a
record 20th and final appearance at his home grand slam, kicks off
his tour swansong against compatriot James Duckworth.
(Editing by Peter Rutherford/Nick Mulvenney)
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