Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova were named the top seeds on Thursday for next week's Australian Open.

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

With women's world number one Justine Henin-Hardenne staying away from the year's opening Grand Slam due to personal reasons, Russia's Sharapova was automatically elevated to the top spot.

The US Open champion is seeded to meet defending champion Amelie Mauresmo in the final after the third-ranked Frenchwoman was bumped up to second.

"I'm excited to start the year at this tournament. Seeded one, two or three, you still have to go out and play your matches," the Russian told reporters on Thursday, one day ahead of the main draw.

World number 94 Serena Williams, the 2005 champion, was unseeded and will prove to be a dangerous floater in the draw as she could effectively face one of the top four seeds in the opening round.

Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova and Belgian Kim Clijsters, making her final visit to the Open before retiring, complete the top four.

Spain's Rafael Nadal was installed as the second seed in the men's draw and could collide with Switzerland's Federer in a third Grand Slam final in less than a year provided he recovers from a thigh strain.

Russian Nikolay Davydenko and Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic were seeded third and fourth respectively with Americans James Blake and Andy Roddick fifth and sixth.

Marat Safin, who missed the defence of his title last year through injury, was seeded 26th.

Australia's Lleyton Hewitt, beaten by Safin in the 2005 final, has been seeded 19th but still faces a race to get fit for the Open after picking up a calf strain.

Argentina's David Nalbandian was seeded eighth, though he too is nursing a knee injury that forced him to pull out of the invitational Kooyong Classic this week.