World No. 1 Novak Djokovic got the top billing as the Australian Open confirmed the seeding for men and women’s singles events on Tuesday, January 11. The Serb will defend his crown as the top-seeded men’s singles player after winning a court battle against the cancellation of his Australia visa — a dramatic turn of events that dominated headlines across the globe.

Home favourite Ash Barty will be the top seed in the women’s singles field while defending champion Naomi Osaka has been seeded 13th, one above Simona Halep.

Former champion and 20-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal has slipped to the 6th seed while Daniil Medvedev, who won the US Open last year after hammering Djokovic in the final, is seeded 2nd.

All eyes will be on Djokovic as the unvaccinated Serbian superstar continued training at Melbourne Park on Tuesday. Djokovic’s Australian visa was cancelled despite having been granted a medical exemption for the Covi-19 vaccine by the Victorian State government. He was held up in an immigration detention center in Melbourne for 4 days. Djokovic was facing deportation as he failed to provide appropriate evidence to meet entry requirements, border officials said.

However, the Serb challenged the Australian government’s decision in the court and won the legal battle. He was released from immigration detention on Monday following which he directly headed to Melbourne Park to train.

However, Djokovic could still be detained by the federal government for a second time and deported. Immigration Minister Alex Hawke’s office said he was still considering whether to use his discretionary power to cancel Djokovic’s visa.

“In line with due process, Minister Hawke will thoroughly consider the matter,” a spokesman said, declining to comment further due to legal reasons.

Australian Open 2022: Seedings for men and women’s singles

Women

1. Ashleigh Barty (AUS)
2. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR)
3. Garbiñe Muguruza (ESP)
4. Barbora Krejcikova (CZE)
5. Maria Sakkari (GRE)
6. Anett Kontaveit (EST)
7. Iga Swiatek (POL)
8. Paula Badosa (ESP)
9. Ons Jabeur (TUN)
10. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS)
11. Sofia Kenin (USA)
12. Elena Rybakina (KAZ)
13. Naomi Osaka (JPN)
14. Simona Halep (ROU)
15. Elina Svitolina (UKR)
16. Angelique Kerber (GER)
17. Emma Raducanu (GBR)
18. Coco Gauff (USA)
19. Elise Mertens (BEL)
20. Petra Kvitova (CZE)
21. Jessica Pegula (USA)
22. Belinda Bencic (SUI)
23. Leylah Fernandez (CAN)
24. Victoria Azarenka (BLR)
25. Daria Kasatkina (RUS)
26. Jelena Ostapenko (LAT)
27. Danielle Collins (USA)
28. Veronika Kudermetova (RUS)
29. Tamara Zidansek (SLO)
30. Camila Giorgi (ITA)
31. Marketa Vondrousova (CZE)
32. Sara Sorribes Tormo (ESP)

Men

1. Novak Djokovic (SRB)
2. Daniil Medvedev (RUS)
3. Alexander Zverev (GER)
4. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE)
5. Andrey Rublev (RUS)
6. Rafael Nadal (ESP)
7. Matteo Berrettini (ITA)
8. Casper Ruud (NOR)
9. Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN)
10. Hubert Hurkacz (POL)
11. Jannik Sinner (ITA)
12. Cameron Norrie (GBR)
13. Diego Schwartzman (ARG)
14. Denis Shapovalov (CAN)
15. Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP)
16. Cristian Garin (CHI)
17. Gael Monfils (FRA)
18. Aslan Karatsev (RUS)
19. Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP)
20. Taylor Fritz (USA)
21. Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO)
22. John Isner (USA)
23. Reilly Opelka (USA)
24. Daniel Evans (GBR)
25. Lorenzo Sonego (ITA)
26. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL)
27. Marin Cilic (CRO)
28. Karen Khachanov (RUS)
29. Ugo Humbert (FRA)
30. Lloyd Harris (RSA)
31. Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)
32. Alex de Minaur (AUS)