Top-ranked Serena Williams [ Images ], a last-minute withdrawal last year at Melbourne [ Images ] Park, was confirmed atop the women's seeding for next week's Australian Open [ Images ].

Men's No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt [ Images ], bidding to become the first Australian in 27 years to win the major on home soil, heads the men's seedings announced on Wednesday by the Australian Open organizers.

Andre Agassi [ Images ], a seven-time Grand Slam titlist who pulled out of his defence of the Australian Open due to a wrist injury last January, is seeded No. 2 among the men.

With the exception of injured Briton Tim Henman [ Images ], ranked No. 8, the rest of the top 10 followed the ATP entry rankings leaderboard.

From 3rd to 8th, the men's seedings were: Marat Safin [ Images ] of Russia [ Images ], Juan Carlos Ferrero [ Images ] and Carlos Moya [ Images ] of Spain, Roger Federer [ Images ] of Switzerland [ Images ], Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic and Albert Costa of Spain.

American Andy Roddick [ Images ] is seeded 9th when Henman withdrew and No. 12-ranked David Nalbandian [ Images ], last year's losing Wimbledon [ Images ] finalist, is seeded 10th after world No. 11 Tommy Haas [ Images ] withdrew.

Defending champion Thomas Johansson of Sweden is injured and won't be defending his title, while Pete Sampras [ Images ], the reigning U.S. Open champion and a two-time winner Down Under, won't be competing in Melbourne.

Chilean Marcelo Rios, runner-up here in '98, Greg Rusedski [ Images ] of Britain and Frenchman Arnaud Clement [ Images ], runner-up in 2001, are all sidelined with injuries.

Serena Williams is chasing her fourth consecutive major. An ankle injury forced her out of the season-opening Grand Slam last year but she returned to win the French Open [ Images ], Wimbledon and U.S. Open.

Her sister Venus Williams [ Images ], losing finalist at the French and U.S. Opens and Wimbledon in 2002, is seeded No. 2 ahead of two-time defending Australian Open champion Jennifer Capriati [ Images ].

Belgian pair Kim Clijsters [ Images ], who upset Serena Williams to win the season-ending WTA Championships last November, and Justine Henin [ Images ] are seeded fourth and fifth.

Amelie Mauresmo [ Images ] of France [ Images ] is ranked sixth but will miss the Australian Open, as will No. 9 Jelena Dokic [ Images ] and No. 10 Martina Hingis [ Images ], who lost the last three finals at Melbourne Park after winning the previous three titles.

 From 6th to 10th, the seeded women are: Monica Seles [ Images ] of the United States, Daniela Hantuchova [ Images ] of Slovakia, Russia's Anastasia Myskina [ Images ] and American pair Lindsay Davenport [ Images ] and Chanda Rubin.

The Australian Open starts next Monday and will conclude with the men's final on January 26.