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Nadal, Jankovic are two to beat
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-01-16 09:51

MELBOURNE -- Spain's Rafael Nadal and Jelena Jankovic of Serbia have been confirmed as the top seeds for this year's Australian Open, which begins on Monday.


Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a shot against Mario Ancic of Croatia during their match at the Sydney International tennis tournament January 15, 2009. [Agencies]
Roger Federer was listed as second seed in the men's draw ahead of defending champion Novak Djokovic and Briton Andy Murray for the year's first grand slam.

Former champion Serena Williams was seeded second for the women's tournament ahead of Russian pair Dinara Safina and Elena Dementieva.


Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after defeating Serbia's Novak Djokovic in their singles final at the Artois tennis championships in west London, in this June 15, 2008 file photo. [Agencies]

The full draw for the tournament will be made at Melbourne yesterday. Seeds for the Australian Open are based on the ATP and WTA world rankings.

The only man missing from the world's top 32 is Russian Nikolay Davydenko while two women are absent, last year's champion Maria Sharapova and China's Li Na.


Switzerland's Roger Federer hits a backhand to Spain's Fernando Verdasco at the Kooyong Classic tennis tournament in Melbourne January 15, 2009. [Agencies]
Nadal has never won the Australian Open although he has won the French Open four times and Wimbledon once. His best performance in Melbourne was last year when he reached the semifinals.

Jankovic was also a semifinalist in Australia last year but is yet to win a grand slam.

Agencies