Novak Djokovic tops seedings

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MELBOURNE, Australia -- Caroline Wozniacki and defending champion Novak Djokovic are the top-seeded players at the Australian Open.

Tournament organizers stuck to convention and based the seedings for the season's first major on the current WTA and ATP rankings.

Djokovic is followed by 2009 champion Rafael Nadal, four-time champion Roger Federer and Andy Murray, who has lost the past two finals at the Australian Open. Of the top 32 men, only Robin Soderling and Marin Cilic are absent.

Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova is seeded No. 2 and is followed by Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova.

Kvitova can move from No. 2 to No. 1 in the rankings by winning the Sydney International -- where nine of the top 10 women are playing, including Wozniacki -- but it wouldn't change the Australian Open seedings. All the top 32 women have entered the Melbourne draw.

Defending women's champion Kim Clijsters (hip) and 2010 champion Serena Williams (left ankle) sustained injuries during the Brisbane International last week, but both are expected to play at the Australian Open.

Clijsters is seeded No. 12, one spot in front of Williams, who was unable to defend her Australian title last year due to prolonged injury. Williams has lost only twice at Melbourne Park since winning the title in 2003 -- missing tournaments in 2004 and 2011 and winning the title five times.

The draw for the tournament will be held Friday.

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

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