Five talking points ahead of the Australian Open

The Australian Open always throws up plenty of intrigue as the new tennis season kicks into gear. With a number of big names returning from injury - although sadly not Andy Murray - and bragging rights very much up for grabs in the women's game, this year's tournament is shaping up nicely. Here, Press Association Sport picks out five key talking points. Filling Murray's boots For the second successive grand slam, there will be no Andy Murray for British tennis fans to cheer. With the former world number one sidelined by a hip problem he has now gone under surgery for, British hopes in the singles will primarily lie with Johanna Konta. Konta has made the semi-finals and quarter-finals the last two years in Melbourne, which was the scene of her great breakthrough in 2016. Kyle Edmund is overdue a top scalp having come close many times while Heather Watson is also in the main draw. Jamie Murray will hope to add to his tally of five slam doubles titles while Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid are among the main challengers in the wheelchairs. Walking wounded Murray and Kei Nishikori have not made it but Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka and Milos Raonic all look set to take...