MELBOURNE: World No 1 Andy Roddick took his place yesterday at the top of the draw for next week's Australian Open and his female counterpart Justine Henin-Hardenne was named top seed in the women's field.

Roddick, a semi-finalist at Melbourne Park last year, had a sparkling 2003. He won his first Grand Slam title at the US Open, and at 21 years and two months he became the youngest American in the history of the ATP rankings to finish the year as world No 1.

Defending champion Andre Agassi was named fourth seed. He is aiming to win a fifth title in Melbourne, having won in 1995, 2000, 2001 and 2003.

At 33 years and eight months, Agassi is the oldest direct entry in the men's draw and still the man to beat.

Seeded second is Wimbledon and Tennis Masters Cup champion Roger Federer, followed by French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, a quarter-finalist here last year.

Two Australians made the seeds, Mark Philippoussis at 10 and No 15 Lleyton Hewitt. Neither has been past the fourth round.

Philippoussis was a Wimbledon finalist last year and Hewitt will be desperate to add his home Grand Slam to the US Open and Wimbledon titles already under his belt.

In the women's draw, French and US Open champion Henin-Hardenne will top the Melbourne seedings for the first time. Her Belgian compatriot, Kim Clijsters, is seeded second.

Clijsters finished runner-up to Henin-Hardenne in both Paris and New York last year and her chances of going one better have not been helped by a foot injury which forced her out of warm-ups.

Returning from an injury which kept her out of the game since the Wimbledon final she lost to sister Serena is Venus Williams. Last year's runner-up has vaulted from her world ranking of 11 to No 3 seed under a WTA plan.

She will be keen to keep the Williams name in the winners"circle and add the Australian Open to her US Open and Wimbledon successes.

France's Amelie Mauresmo is fourth, followed by 2000 champion Lindsay Davenport.

The Australian Open draw will take place at Melbourne Park tomorrow. The two-week tournament opens on Monday.

Australian Open top 10 seeds

Men

1. Andy Roddick (USA)

2. Roger Federer (Swi)

3. Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spa)

4. Andre Agassi (USA)

5. Guillermo Coria (Arg)

6. Rainer Schuettler (Ger)

7. Carlos Moya (Spa)

8. David Nalbandian (Arg)

9. Sebastien Grosjean (Fra)

10. Mark Philippoussis (Aus)

Women's

1. Justine Henin-Hardenne (Bel)

2. Kim Clijsters (Bel)

3. Venus Williams (USA)

4. Amelie Mauresmo (Fra)

5. Lindsay Davenport (USA)

6. Anastasia Myskina (Rus)

7. Elena Dementieva (Rus)

8. Ai Sugiyama (Jpn)

9. Chanda Rubin (USA)

10. Nadia Petrova (Rus)

(China Daily 01/16/2004 page15)