Britain's Andy Murray has been drawn against Swiss world number one Roger Federer in the first round of the Dubai Open, which begins on Monday.

Defending Dubai champion Federer has not played since losing to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-final in Melbourne six weeks ago.

Murray's recent form has been inconsistent, but the Scot has collected two tour titles in 2008.

Federer and Murray have played each other twice, with one win a piece.

The pair first met in the Thailand Open final - Murray's first ever on the ATP Tour - in October 2005, a match which Federer won in straight sets.

However, Murray avenged the defeat 10 months later at the Cincinnati Masters.

The world number 12 - who is unseeded in Dubai - has won tour events in Qatar and Marseille this year.

But his erratic form has also seen him fall at the first hurdle in the Australian Open as well as the World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam 10 days ago.

Federer has not played since his straight sets semi-final defeat to eventual Australian Open champion Djokovic in January.