Andy Murray, Angelique Kerber to lead the way for Australian Open 2017

Andy Murray, Kerber

World No. 1 Andy Murray will be the man to watch in Melbourne

Melbourne: Andy Murray will be the top seed at a grand slam for the first time in his career at this year's Australian Open.

Murray, who became World No. 1 in November after winning four tournaments in a row, will be placed in the opposite half of the draw on Friday to Novak Djokovic, who is seeded second.

Kerber

Djokovic is likely to be Murray's chief rival again in Melbourne, where he is a six-time champion and has beaten the Scot four times in the final. After sitting out the second half of last season with back and knee problems, Roger Federer is seeded 17th, meaning the Swiss could be drawn to meet either Murray or Djokovic as early as the third round.

Federer has won four Australian Open titles but the 35-year-old has not played a competitive tournament since Wimbledon last year.

Rafael Nadal represents another potential early foe. The Spaniard is seeded ninth and could therefore meet any of the top four seeds in the last 16.

Canada's Milos Raonic, who lost to Murray in last summer's Wimbledon final, is seeded third while reigning US Open champion Stan Wawrinka is four.

Angelique Kerber is top of the women's draw and bidding to defend her Australian Open crown, after upsetting Serena Williams in the final here last year. Williams, who also surrendered the World No. 1 spot after Kerber won the US Open in September, is seeded second.