With Gauff playing Venus Williams again, eyes were immediately focused on that section of the draw – an exciting quarter which also features Serena Williams among a host of stand-out names.
The 38-year-old takes on Russian 18-year-old Anastasia Potapova first as she aims for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title, and could face Gauff or her older sister in the quarter-finals.
Osaka is also in the same quarter, the Japanese third seed starting against Czech Marie Bouzkova.
Briton Konta, who reached the semi-finals in Melbourne in 2016, is another pitched into this loaded part of the women’s draw.
Serena Williams is a possible opponent in the last 16 for the British number one, who could also face 2018 champion and former world number one Caroline Wozniacki in the third round.
The 29-year-old Dane, who enrolled at Harvard Business School in September and was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2018, is retiring after the tournament, saying she has realised “there is more to life”.
Britain’s Katie Boulter aims to put a season wrecked by injury behind her after using her protected ranking of 85 to enter the year’s first major, but must take on Ukrainian fifth seed Elina Svitolina in her opening match.
British number two Heather Watson, ranked 101st, will play Czech world number 62 Kristyna Pliskova, twin sister of second seed Karolina.
Karolina Pliskova, who is aiming for a first Grand Slam title, has a tricky opener against France’s former world number 10 Kristina Mladenovic.
Top seed and home favourite Ashleigh Barty opens against Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko.
