• Australian Open

Nadal's path to Australian Open smoothed by seedings

ESPN staff
January 13, 2011
Rafael Nadal has been working strenuously ahead of the Australian Open © Getty Images
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Rafael Nadal's hopes of completing the career Grand Slam have been boosted by news that he will be the No. 1 seed at the Australian Open.

Nadal is aiming to add the Melbourne major to the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open titles won last year, and his reward for being world No. 1 is the top spot in the draw.

The Spaniard has won the Australian Open once before in 2009, but he fell to Andy Murray at the quarter-final stage in 2010. Had he beaten the British No. 1, Nadal still would have faced tough obstacles in Marin Cilic and Roger Federer due to his second-seed ranking.

Murray is seeded fifth for the year's first grand slam, which means he stands to face one of the world's top four in the quarter-finals, barring any upsets.

In the women's draw, Caroline Wozniacki earns top billing despite having never won a grand slam title. Defending champion Serena Williams misses out due to injury, so Vera Zvonareva is No. 2 seed with Kim Clijsters and Venus Williams three and four respectively.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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