World No. 1 Novak Djokovic is the man to beat at the Australian Open. The Serb enjoyed a stunning 2011, winning three grand slams including last year's tournament in Melbourne. Djokovic starts with a match against Italy's 108th-ranked Paolo Lorenzi and could face fourth seed Andy Murray in the semis in a rematch of last year's final.
Men's draw: Top seed - Novak Djokovic —
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic is the man to beat at the Australian Open. The Serb enjoyed a stunning 2011, winning three grand slams including last year's tournament in Melbourne. Djokovic starts with a match against Italy's 108th-ranked Paolo Lorenzi and could face fourth seed Andy Murray in the semis in a rematch of last year's final.
Rafael Nadal is a 10-time grand slam champion and claimed the Australian Open crown in 2009. The Spaniard faces a qualifier in the first round and could meet longtime rival Roger Federer in the semifinals. They have contested eight grand slam finals in recent years, and this is the first time since the 2005 French Open they have been in the same half of the draw.
Second seed - Rafael Nadal —
Rafael Nadal is a 10-time grand slam champion and claimed the Australian Open crown in 2009. The Spaniard faces a qualifier in the first round and could meet longtime rival Roger Federer in the semifinals. They have contested eight grand slam finals in recent years, and this is the first time since the 2005 French Open they have been in the same half of the draw.
Federer, a 16-time grand slam winner, reigned for the majority of the last decade, but in recent years he has been usurped by Nadal and Djokovic. The four-time Australian Open champion begins his campaign against a qualifier.
Third seed - Roger Federer —
Federer, a 16-time grand slam winner, reigned for the majority of the last decade, but in recent years he has been usurped by Nadal and Djokovic. The four-time Australian Open champion begins his campaign against a qualifier.
Will 2012 be the year British world No.4 Andy Murray captures a first grand slam title? Runner-up in Melbourne for the past two years, he begins his quest to make it third time lucky against American teenager Ryan Harrison.
Fourth seed - Andy Murray —
Will 2012 be the year British world No.4 Andy Murray captures a first grand slam title? Runner-up in Melbourne for the past two years, he begins his quest to make it third time lucky against American teenager Ryan Harrison.
Last year's semifinalist will be confident of contending after helping Spain to Davis Cup glory last month. The fifth seed has been drawn against Rui Machado of Portugal. He could meet Djokovic in the last eight, having won their most recent encounter at the ATP World Tour Finals in December.
Fifth seed - David Ferrer —
Last year's semifinalist will be confident of contending after helping Spain to Davis Cup glory last month. The fifth seed has been drawn against Rui Machado of Portugal. He could meet Djokovic in the last eight, having won their most recent encounter at the ATP World Tour Finals in December.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga warmed up for the Melbourne grand slam in perfect fashion by winning the Qatar Open last week. Tsonga, who reached the Australian Open final in 2008, faces Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin ahead of a possible quarterfinal clash with Murray.
Sixth seed - Jo-Wilfried Tsonga —
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga warmed up for the Melbourne grand slam in perfect fashion by winning the Qatar Open last week. Tsonga, who reached the Australian Open final in 2008, faces Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin ahead of a possible quarterfinal clash with Murray.
Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki topped the women's rankings for the majority of 2011, but a first grand slam title still eludes her. The 21-year-old has been top seed for the last six majors and begins her campaign against Australia's Anastasia Rodionova.
Women's draw: Top seed - Caroline Wozniacki —
Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki topped the women's rankings for the majority of 2011, but a first grand slam title still eludes her. The 21-year-old has been top seed for the last six majors and begins her campaign against Australia's Anastasia Rodionova.
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Petra Kvitova is the rising force in women's tennis, with the 2011 Wimbledon champion closing in on top spot in the rankings. The Czech's first-round opponent is Vera Dushevina of Russia.
Second seed - Petra Kvitova —
Petra Kvitova is the rising force in women's tennis, with the 2011 Wimbledon champion closing in on top spot in the rankings. The Czech's first-round opponent is Vera Dushevina of Russia.
Victoria Azarenka is in fine form heading into the year's first grand slam after defeating China's Li Na to clinch the Sydney International title.The Belarusian's best grand slam showing is a semifinal appearance at Wimbledon in 2011. She begins her quest for a maiden major crown against Britain's Heather Watson.
Third seed - Victoria Azarenka —
Victoria Azarenka is in fine form heading into the year's first grand slam after defeating China's Li Na to clinch the Sydney International title.The Belarusian's best grand slam showing is a semifinal appearance at Wimbledon in 2011. She begins her quest for a maiden major crown against Britain's Heather Watson.
Russia's Maria Sharapova sealed her third grand slam title at the 2008 Australian Open, but the 24-year-old has not won one of tennis' four showpiece tournaments since. A beaten finalist at Wimbledon last year, she begins her week against Gisela Dulko of Argentina.
Fourth seed - Maria Sharapova —
Russia's Maria Sharapova sealed her third grand slam title at the 2008 Australian Open, but the 24-year-old has not won one of tennis' four showpiece tournaments since. A beaten finalist at Wimbledon last year, she begins her week against Gisela Dulko of Argentina.
Li Na made history by becoming Asia's first grand slam singles champion at the 2011 French Open, having lost to Kim Clijsters in the Melbourne final four months earlier. She looks in good shape ahead of her opener against Kazakh Ksenia Pervak ahead of a possible quarterfinal against Wozniacki.
Fifth seed - Li Na —
Li Na made history by becoming Asia's first grand slam singles champion at the 2011 French Open, having lost to Kim Clijsters in the Melbourne final four months earlier. She looks in good shape ahead of her opener against Kazakh Ksenia Pervak ahead of a possible quarterfinal against Wozniacki.
Samantha Stosur delighted Australian tennis fans when she became the country's first female grand slam singles champion in 31 years at the 2011 U.S. Open. But she has struggled for form at the start of 2012 and will be hoping for an improvement against Romania's Sorana Cirstea. A quarterfinal date with Kvitova is on the cards.
Sixth seed - Samantha Stosur —
Samantha Stosur delighted Australian tennis fans when she became the country's first female grand slam singles champion in 31 years at the 2011 U.S. Open. But she has struggled for form at the start of 2012 and will be hoping for an improvement against Romania's Sorana Cirstea. A quarterfinal date with Kvitova is on the cards.
Former world No. 1 Kim Clijsters is one of a group of players seeded outside of the top 10 who pose a serious threat. The three-time U.S. Open champion's hopes of defending her title have been hit by recent injury problems, but she has a relatively easy start against a qualifier. The Belgian could face Li in the fourth round in a rematch of last year's final.
11th seed - Kim Clijsters —
Former world No. 1 Kim Clijsters is one of a group of players seeded outside of the top 10 who pose a serious threat. The three-time U.S. Open champion's hopes of defending her title have been hit by recent injury problems, but she has a relatively easy start against a qualifier. The Belgian could face Li in the fourth round in a rematch of last year's final.
American 13-time grand slam winner Serena Williams could be a dangerous early opponent for Sharapova despite her recent injury setback in Brisbane. Williams' five women's singles titles at the tournament is an Open era record. The 30-year-old will play Austrian Tamira Paszek in the opening round.
12th seed - Serena Williams —
American 13-time grand slam winner Serena Williams could be a dangerous early opponent for Sharapova despite her recent injury setback in Brisbane. Williams' five women's singles titles at the tournament is an Open era record. The 30-year-old will play Austrian Tamira Paszek in the opening round.