SYDNEY — World number ones Novak Djokovic and Victoria Azarenka were named the top seeds Monday for next week's Australian Open in Melbourne. Djokovic, who beat Rafael Nadal in five sets in last year's final, will be bidding for his third successive Australian Open title at Melbourne Park. Roger Federer, who has a record 17 Grand Slam titles in 24 finals, is the second seed ahead of US Open champion Andy Murray and Spain's David Ferrer. Nadal will miss the year-opening grand slam as he is suffering from a stomach virus. Defending women's singles champion Azarenka is seeded ahead of last year's finalist, Russian Maria Sharapova, five-time winner Serena Williams and Poland's Wimbledon finalist Agnieszka Radwanska. Last year's record-breaking epic of five punishing hours and 53 minutes secured Djokovic his fifth Grand Slam title while establishing the 25-year-old as tennis's indisputable iron man. The marathon match would also serve as a portent for the year ahead for the steely-eyed Serb, who came under siege from his ‘Big Four' rivals but emerged from an attritional season with his world number one ranking intact. If 2011 was the year Djokovic soared into the stratosphere on the back of three Grand Slam titles and an astonishing 41-match winning streak, he was brought gently back to earth in 2012. After winning his third Australian Open, Djokovic would add no further major titles last year, with the spoils shared by Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray. — Agencies
