World number one Roger Federer and his counterpart in the women's game Lindsay Davenport (picture) were yesterday named as the top seeds for next week's Australian Open.

There were few surprises in the list, which was based on the world rankings.

Women's champion Serena Williams was named 13th seed after an injury-affected 2005.

Williams could conceivably run into one of the top four seeds as early as the fourth round. Her sister Venus, last year's Wimbledon champion, has been seeded 10th.

World number three Andy Roddick has been installed as the men's second seed after Rafael Nadal withdrew from the tournament.

Australia's Lleyton Hewitt, last year's beaten finalist, has been seeded third but must wait until today's draw to see if he could face Federer or Roddick in the semi-finals.

David Nalbandian, who beat Federer last year in the season-ending Masters Cup final was seeded fourth, though he is battling a viral infection that forced him to pull out of the Kooyong Classic this week.

Belgium's Kim Clijsters is the women's second seed with France's Amelie Mauresmo third.

Former world number one Maria Sharapova, battling a shoulder injury to be fit in time for the tournament which begins on Monday, has been seeded fourth and heads a list of nine seeded Russian women.

India's Sania Mirza occupies the last seeded place in the women's draw.