2010 Australian Open preview

Today-Jan. 31 in Melbourne • TV: ESPN2, Tennis Channel

1. Roger Federer; 2. Rafael Nadal*; 3. Novak Djokovic; 4. Juan Martin del Potro; 5. Andy Murray; 6. Nikolay Davydenko; 7. Andy Roddick; 8. Robin Soderling. *-defending champion

• Nadal won his first hardcourt major last year in Melbourne.

• Federer won the Australian Open in 2004, 2006 and 2007 and lost to the eventual champion in '05, '08 and last year. He is seeking a record-extending 16th Grand Slam title.

• Del Potro, Murray and Roddick are in Nadal's half of the draw, meaning Federer can't meet any of them until the final.

• Del Potro withdrew from an exhibition tournament at Kooyong with a sore right wrist. He is the defending U.S. Open champion.

1. Serena Williams*; 2. Dinara Safina; 3. Svetlana Kuznetsova; 4. Caroline Wozniacki; 5. Elena Dementieva; 6. Venus Williams; 7. Victoria Azarenka; 8. Jelena Jankovic. *-defending champion

• Former No. 1 Justine Henin is unseeded in her first Grand Slam event since coming out of retirement.

• Kim Clijsters, the reigning U.S. Open champion, is seeded 15th.

• Maria Sharapova was off the tour for 10 months while recovering from right shoulder surgery.

• Eight players in the field have held the world No. 1 ranking.