British number one Andy Murray has been seeded nine for next week's Australian Open.
Seeding should give Scot easier route
British number one Andy Murray has been seeded nine for next week's Australian Open.
The 20-year-old has been rewarded for his victory at the season-opening Qatar Open last week, which moved him back into the world's top 10.
The seeding is a welcome boost for the young Scot as it should give him an easier route through the draw.
Last year Murray met world number two Rafael Nadal in the fourth round and lost out in five sets, but should he progress this time he will avoid the top four players until later in the tournament.
Like the US and French Opens, the Australian Open organises its seedings to correlate with the world rankings.
Federer treble
Roger Federer and Justine Henin are therefore top seeds in the men's and women's draws.
Only two of the top 32 ranked men are not competing, Guillermo Canas and Tommy Haas, while the top 32 ranked women are all playing and are seeded accordingly.
Federer, who has won five consecutive Wimbledon titles and four in a row at the US Open, is bidding for a third successive victory in Melbourne and his 13th Grand Slam title in all.
The world number one has been laid low by a stomach bug which forced him out of the traditional lead-up event at Kooyong.
Henin, who missed last year's Australian Open before winning the French and US Opens, will try and regain the title she won back in 2004.
Defending women's champion Serena Williams is seeded seventh.
