MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Top-ranked Rafael Nadal and defending champion Roger Federer have been seeded first and second for the Australian Open, meaning they can only play each other at Melbourne Park this month if they set up a rematch of last year’s final.
Federer was coming off an extended injury break and was seeded 17th at last year’s Australian Open when he beat Nadal, who was seeded ninth, in five sets in the final. Grigor Dimitrov, a semifinalist here last year, is seeded third and six-time champion Novak Djokovic — coming back from a six-month injury layoff — is 14th and in Federer’s half of the draw.
Jack Sock is the highest-seeded American man at No. 8.
The seedings for the season’s first major tournament reflected the rankings in the both singles tournaments. The draw was scheduled for later Thursday.
Serena Williams decided not to defend her Australian title, saying that just four months after having her first child that her tennis hadn’t yet returned to a level where she felt could win a Grand Slam title.
Two-time French Open finalist Simona Halep, yet to win a major, is seeded No. 1 in the women’s draw, with Caroline Wozniacki at No. 2 and Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza at No. 3.
Venus Williams, who lost the Australian final to her younger sister Serena last year, is seeded fifth. French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko is seeded No. 7 and U.S. Open winner Sloane Stephens is No. 13.
