Nadal, Jankovic top seeds at Australian Open

World number ones Rafael Nadal and Jelena Jankovic were on Thursday confirmed as the top seeds for next week's Australian Open.

World number ones Rafael Nadal and Jelena Jankovic were on Thursday confirmed as the top seeds for next week's Australian Open.

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Organisers issued the list of 32 seeds for the men's and women's singles tournaments with all but one of the top 32 ranked men, and 30 of the top 32 ranked women seeded.

Russia's Nikolay Davydenko has withdrawn with a heel injury, while Maria Sharapova is not fully recovered from shoulder surgery and will be unable to defend her Australian Open 2008 title.

China's Li Na is another absentee from the seedings with a knee injury.

Switzerland's Roger Federer, bidding for a fourth Australian title and attempting to equal American Pete Sampras's record of 14 grand slam titles, is the second seed.

Serbian Novak Djokovic, who is defending his Australian men's crown, has been seeded at three this year ahead of Britain's big hope Andy Murray.

Nine-time grand slam champion Serena Williams is the second seed in the women's draw ahead of Russians Dinara Safina and Elena Dementieva.

The official draw for the year's first grand slam tournament, which gets underway on Monday, will take place on Friday at Melbourne Park.