Kasidit Samrej has been handed a tough opener as the rising Thai tennis star is drawn to face Russian world No.5 Daniil Medvedev in the first round of the Australian Open.
The world No.414 received a wild card to participate in the first Grand Slam of the year after winning the OA Asia-Pacific Wild Card Play-off tournament in Chengdu, China, last November.
He beat Japanese player Rio Noguchi in the final of the competition.
The 23-year-old will become the first Thai man to compete in a Grand Slam main draw after 13 years following Paradorn Srichaphan and Danai Udomchoke.
Medvedev is a three-time finalist at the Australian Open (2021, 2022 and 2024). The 28-year-old also won the US Open in 2021.
Apart from Kasidit, another Thai player Peangtarn Plipuech has also received a wild card for the women's doubles event in the Australian Open.
Peangtarn will team up with Taiwanese player Tsao Chia-yi in Melbourne.