MELBOURNE – World number 1 Novak Djokovic and Victoria Azarenka were named the top seeds on Monday for next week’s Australian Open in Melbourne.
Report by Supersport
Djokovic, who beat Rafael Nadal in five sets in last year’s final, will be bidding for his third successive Australian Open title at Melbourne Park.
Roger Federer, who has a record 17 grand slam titles in 24 finals, is the second seed ahead of US Open champion Andy Murray and Spain’s David Ferrer.
Nadal will miss the year-opening grand slam as he is suffering from a stomach virus.
Defending women’s singles champion Azarenka is seeded ahead of last year’s finalist, Russian Maria Sharapova, five-time winner Serena Williams and Poland’s Wimbledon finalist Agnieszka Radwanska.
Meanwhile, World number 9 Samantha Stosur’s terrible build up to the Australian Open continued on Monday when she was knocked out of the Sydney International by China’s Zheng Jie in the first round.
The former US Open champion also crashed out of the first round in Brisbane last week and local hopes the 28-year-old could be Australia’s first women’s champion at Melbourne Park since Christine O’Neil in 1978 now appear increasingly slim.
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Stosur underwent ankle surgery less than six weeks ago and has appeared rusty. Zheng’s 6-3, 6-7, 6-4 victory in two hours, 43 minutes ensured that she could still set up a possible quarter-final clash against compatriot Li Na, who was forced into a dogfight in the heat before overcoming American Christina McHale 7-6, 7-5 to also reach the second round.
MEN (top 10) 1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 2. Roger Federer (SUI) 3. Andy Murray (GBR) 4. David Ferrer (ESP) 5. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 6. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) 7. Jo Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 8. Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) 9. Richard Gasquet (FRA) 10. Nicolas Almagro (ESP)
WOMEN (top 10) 1. Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 2. Maria Sharapova (RUS) 3. Serena Williams (USA) 4. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 5. Angelique Kerber (GER) 6. Li Na (CHN) 7. Sara Errani (ITA) 8. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 9. Samantha Stosur (AUS) 10. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)
