Roddick, Henin-Hardenne named top seeds

MELBOURNE (Reuters) -- World No. 1 Andy Roddick took his place Thursday at the top of the draw for next week's Australian Open, and his female counterpart Justine Henin-Hardenne was named top seed in the women's field.

Roddick, a semifinalist at Melbourne Park last year, had a sparkling 2003, becoming the youngest American, at 21 years and two months, in the history of the ATP rankings to finish the year as world No. 1 and winning his first grand slam at the U.S. Open.

Defending champion Andre Agassi was named fourth seed. He is aiming to win a fifth title in Melbourne, having won in 1995, 2000, 2001 and 2003.

At 33 years and eight months, Agassi is the oldest direct entry in the men's draw and still the man to beat.

Seeded second is Wimbledon and Tennis Masters Cup champion Roger Federer, followed by French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, a quarterfinalist here last year.

Two Australians made the seeds, Mark Philippoussis at No. 10 and No. 15 Lleyton Hewitt. Neither has been past the fourth round at Melbourne Park.

Philippoussis was a Wimbledon finalist last year, and Hewitt will be desperate to add his home grand slam to the U.S. Open and Wimbledon titles already under his belt.

In the women's draw, French and U.S. Open champion Henin-Hardenne will top the Melbourne seedings for the first time. Her Belgian compatriot, Kim Clijsters, is seeded second.

Clijsters finished runner-up to Henin-Hardenne in both Paris and New York last year, and her chances of going one better have not been helped by a foot injury which forced her out of warm-ups in Perth and Sydney.

Returning from an injury that kept her out of the game since the Wimbledon final she lost to sister Serena is Venus Williams. Last year's runner-up has been vaulted from her world ranking of 11 to No. 3 seed under a WTA plan.

She will be keen to keep the Williams name in the winners' circle and add the Australian Open to her U.S. Open and Wimbledon successes.

France's Amelie Mauresmo is fourth followed by 2000 champion Lindsay Davenport at five.

The two-week grand slam begins Monday.

Copyright 2004 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.