Djokovic, Serena top seeds again

Familiar suspects to headline Australian Open line-up next week

MELBOURNE: World number ones Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams were named the top seeds yesterday for next week's Australian Open, while two-time champion Victoria Azarenka did not make the top 32.

Djokovic is bidding for a fifth title at Melbourne Park after crashing in the quarter-finals last year to eventual champion Stan Wawrinka, while Serena is gunning for a sixth Australian crown.

Evergreen Roger Federer, who has a record 17 grand slam titles, is the second seed ahead of injury-plagued Rafael Nadal, Wawrinka and Japan's Kei Nishikori.

After bringing up a jaw-dropping 1,000th victory on Sunday by beating Canadian Milos Raonic to win the Brisbane International, the world number two is now aiming for a 1,007th win, which would give him the title at Melbourne Park.

"Yeah, I do believe that," said Federer when asked if he could claim a fifth Australian Open and his 18th Grand Slam. "Then again, it's just talk. At the end of the day, I've got to do the running, I've got to do the clutch play when it matters the most."

Maria Sharapova, who won the Brisbane International last weekend, takes the number two seeding among the women, ahead of Simona Halep, Petra Kvitova and Ana Ivanovic.

Last year's champion Li Na has retired.

Azarenka ended 2014 ranked 32 in the world, but a first-round loss at the Brisbane International saw her drop to 41, outside the cut-off for seedings at Melbourne Park.

The Belarusian won back-to-back Australian Open titles in 2012 and 2013, but battled a string of fitness and personal issues last year.

 

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