Hewitt, Serena top seeded

Australian Lleyton Hewitt tops the seedings at his home Grand Slam for the second successive year, tournament officials announced on Wednesd...

Australian Lleyton Hewitt tops the seedings at his home Grand Slam for the second successive year, tournament officials announced on Wednesday.

The world No.1 becomes the first home-grown male player to top the seedings in back-to-back years here since tennis turned professional in 1968.

Australian Open Seedings

Men: 1. Lleyton Hewitt Aus, 2. Andre Agassi USA, 3. Marat Safin Rus, 4. Juan Carlos Ferrero Spa, 5. Carlos Moya Spa, 6. Roger Federer Swi, 7. Jiri Novak Cze, 8. Albert Costa Spa, 9. Andy Roddick USA, 10. David Nalbandian Arg, 11. Paradorn Srichaphan Tha, 12. Sebastien Grosjean Fra, 13. Fernando Gonzalez Chi, 14. Guillermo Canas Arg, 15. Alex Corretja Spa, 16. Sjeng Schalken Ned, 17. Gaston Gaudio Arg, 18. Younes el Aynaoui Mar, 19. Juan Ignacio Chela Arg, 20. Xavier Malisse Bel, 21. Andrei Pavel Rom, 22. Yevgeny Kafelnikov Rus, 23. James Blake USA , 24. Nicolas Lapentti Ecu, 25. Mikhail Youzhny Rus, 26. Tommy Robredo Spa, 27. Jan-Michael Gambill USA, 28. Fabrice Santoro Fra, 29. Nicolas Escude fra, 30. Gustavo Kuerten Bra, 31. Rainer Schuettler Ger, 32. Stefan Koubek AUT.
Women: 1. Serena Williams USA, 2. Venus Williams USA, 3. Jennifer Capriati USA, 4. Kim Clijsters Bel, 5. Justine Henin-Hardenne Bel, 6. Monica Seles USA, 7. Daniela Hantuchova Svk, 8. Anastasia Myskina Rus, 9. Lindsay Davenport USA, 10. Chanda Rubin USA, 11. Magdalena Maleeva Bul, 12. Patty Schnyder Swi, 13. Silvia Farina Elia Ita, 14. Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi Isr, 15. Alexandra Stevenson USA, 16. Nathalie Dechy Fra, 17. Elena Dementieva Rus, 18. Eleni Daniilidou Gre, 19. Amanda Coetzer Rsa, 20. Elena Bovina Rus, 21. Ai Sugiyama Jpn, 22. Anne Kremer Lux, 23. Paola Suarez Arg, 24. Tatiana Panova Rus, 25. Meghann Shaughnessy USA, 26. Tamarine Tanasugarn Tha, 27. Lisa Raymond USA, 28. Clarisa Fernandez Arg, 29. Iva Majoli Cro, 30. Janette Husarova Svk, 31. Conchita Martinez Spa, 32. Katarina Srebontik Slo.

Last year he became the first top seed to lose in the first round of the men8217;s singles and will be eager to set the record straight this time round when the tournament begins on January 13.

Hewitt finished last year ranked No.1 in the world and captured his second successive Tennis Masters Cup title in Shanghai in November to add to his Wimbledon title won in July. Three-times Open champion Andre Agassi missed last year when he withdrew on the eve of the tournament with a wrist injury.

Spain is again well represented through Masters Cup finalist Juan Carlos Ferrero in fourth spot and Hewitt nemesis Carlos Moya in fifth, reigning French Open Champion Albert Costa in eighth and former world No.2 Alex Corretja 15 and Tommy Robredo 26.

In the women8217;s draw Blake8217;s American Hopman Cup team mate Serena Williams tops the seedings for the first time in Melbourne. The winner of the last three grand slam titles of 2002 is hoping to capture her first Australian Open crown and in doing so claim what she has christened the 8216;Serena Slam8217;.Reuters