TOP-RANKED Novak Djokovic and Simona Halep, as expected, were given the No. 1 seedings Thursday when the Australian Open announced its singles seedings list.

Defending champion Roger Federer is seeded No. 3 after Rafael Nadal, while women’s defending singles champion Caroline Wozniacki, who beat Halep in last year’s final at Melbourne Park, is No. 3 behind second-seeded and 2016 champion Angelique Kerber.

Serena Williams, who won the Australian Open in 2017 while pregnant with daughter Alexis Olympia, returns as the 16th-seeded player after missing last year’s tournament.

Fifth-ranked Juan Martin del Potro will miss the Australian Open while he recovers from a fractured right kneecap.

Meanwhile, Djokovic exposed Andy Murray’s frailties in a practice match ahead of the Australian Open on Thursday, with the Scot calling it a day while losing 6-1, 4-1.

Three-time major winner Murray is on the comeback trail after missing 11 months with a hip injury, which has seen him slump to 230 in the world. He was bundled out of the Brisbane International warmup last week in round two by Russia’s Daniil Medvedev and headed straight to Melbourne to fit in some much-needed practice.

Long-time rival and six-time Australian Open champion Djokovic offered to share a court with him, but Murray called time after less than an hour with his movement around the baseline appearing restricted.

The pair have met four times in Australian Open finals, with the Serb winning them all. This year’s edition of the season’s opening Grand Slam in Melbourne Park begins Monday.

(SD-Agencies)