Post by Taxigirl on Jan 15, 2004 10:16:11 GMT
Tim Henman has been seeded 11th for the Australian Open, the first grand slam of the season, which starts on Monday.
The British number one missed the tournament last year through injury but has been in encouraging form of late.
Both the men's and women's seedings are topped by the respective world number ones, American star Andy Roddick and Belgium's Justine Henin-Hardenne.
Henman is one place behind Mark Philippoussis but four higher than another home favourite, Lleyton Hewitt.
Roddick was a semi-finalist at Melbourne Park last year and went on to enjoy a great season, winning the US Open and becoming the youngest player to finish the year as world number one.
Behind him is Wimbledon champion Roger Federer and French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Defending Australian Open champion Andre Agassi is seeded fourth. The 33-year-old American is chasing a fifth title in Melbourne after his victories in 1995, 2000, 2001 and 2003.
Friday draw
The women's competition has been blighted by a host of withdrawals, with defending champion Serena Williams and two-time winner Jennifer Capriati both out injured.
Mary Pierce, champion in 1995, and Jelena Dokic have also pulled out, while Belgian Kim Clijsters has been seeded second despite remaining a major doubt with an ankle injury.
Henin-Hardenne is top seed after an outstanding 2003, in which she reached the semi-final or better in 18 of the 19 tournaments she entered, winning both the French Open and US Open.
Venus Williams replaced her sister Serena as third seed despite not having played a tournament since losing the Wimbledon final in July.
The draw will take place in Melbourne on Friday.