TENNIS: Defending champion Jennifer Capriati and Lleyton Hewitt are the top seeds for the 2002 Australian Open singles draws.

Hewitt, who finished last year as the youngest year-end world number one after winning the Tennis Masters in Sydney, becomes the first Australian top seed at a national Open since Ken Rosewall in 1976.

Defending champion Andre Agassi (seeded three) is aiming for his third straight men's singles title with last year's top seed Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten on the other side of the men's draw at number two.

The 1999 champion and 2000 runner-up, Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia is seeded at four, with two-time champion, Pete Sampras at nine.

France is again well represented through Sebastian Grosjean (6), Arnaud Clement (16), Fabrice Santoro (21) and Nicolas Escude (31).

Capriati is the top women's seed following the withdrawal of world number one Lindsay Davenport through injury. US Open and Wimbledon champion Venus Williams is second seed with three times back-to-back Australian Open Champion (1997-99) and runner-up in 2000 and 2001, Martina Hingis, third.

The Australian Open draw takes place on Friday at 10.30 a.m. (23.30 Irish time).