Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams are the top seeds in Australian Open
Defending champions Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams top the Australian Open seedings lists, which follow rankings ahead of the first Grand Slam tournament of 2016.
Four-time finalist Andy Murray is seeded No. 2, 17-time major winner Roger Federer at No. 3 and 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka is at No. 4, one higher than Rafael Nadal, according to Xinhua news agency.
On the women's side, Simona Halep is No. 2, Garbine Muguruza at No. 3, Agnieszka Radwanska is No. 4 and Maria Sharapova, the 2008 champion and finalist last year, at No. 5.
Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka moved back into the top 16 with her victory at the Brisbane International last week, her first title since 2013.
She finished last season at No. 22 but moved up the rankings with her title run in the Australian Open warmup tournament and was seeded No. 14 at Melbourne Park, meaning she avoids early-round encounters with the top-ranked players.
A win over 2014 U.S. Open runner-up Kei Nishikori and a run to the semifinals at the Brisbane International lifted Australia's Bernard Tomic to a No. 16 seeding in the men's draw.
The Australian Open draw will take place on Friday.
Following are the seeding lists:
Men's
1. Novak Djokovic, Serbia
2. Andy Murray, Britain
3. Roger Federer, Switzerland
4. Stan Wawrinka, Switzerland
5. Rafael Nadal, Spain
6. Tomas Berdych, Czech Republic
7. Kei Nishikori, Japan
8. David Ferrer, Spain
9. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, France
10. John Isner, United States
Women's
1. Serena Williams, United States
2. Simona Halep, Romania
3. Garbine Muguruza, Spain
4. Agnieszka Radwanska, Poland
5. Maria Sharapova, Russia
6. Petra Kvitova, Czech Republic
7. Angelique Kerber, Germany
8. Venus Williams, United States
9. Karolina Pliskova, Czech Republic
10. Carla Suarez Navarro, Spain