Andy Murray, Angelique Kerber top seeds for Australian Open

Andy Murray, who is chasing his first title at the Australian Open, is seeded ahead of Novak Djokovic in the men’s event while Angelique Kerber will defend her women’s crown as the top seed

Andy Murray and Angelique Kerber, world number ones, were named the top seeds on Thursday for next week’s Australian Open with organisers aligning with the current rankings.

Andy Murray, who has featured in five finals at the Australian Open but never won once, will be the top seed this time (AP)

Scotland’s Murray is chasing his first title at Melbourne Park after losing in the final five times, including in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016 to Serb rival Novak Djokovic, who is seeded two.

Kerber will be defending her first Grand Slam having upset Serena Williams, seeded two this year, in the decider last year.

Big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic, who lost to Murray in the 2016 semi-finals, is the third men’s seed with 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka fourth and Japanese hope Kei Nishikori fifth.

Andy Murray ended 2016 as the top-ranked tennis player (Graphic News)

Swiss legend Roger Federer starts at 17 as he makes a comeback after six months out with a knee injury. His old foe Rafael Nadal, also returning from injury, is ninth.

Angelique Kerber defeated Serena Williams in last year’s Australian Open final (Graphic News)

Serena Williams, gunning for a 23rd Grand Slam title to beat Steffi Graf’s Open-era record, is scheduled to again meet Kerber in the women’s final.

But there are a host of dangerous players looking to stop her, with Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska seeded three and Romania’s Simona Halep four. US Open finalist Karolina Pliskova rounds out the top five.