Seeded second Andy Murray set for final clash with Novak Djokovic at Australian Open

Andy Murray has reached three Australian Open finals but has not been able to win a title yet. David Gray / Reuters

Britain’s Andy Murray will be seeded second at the Australian Open behind reigning champion Novak Djokovic.

Djokovic has beaten Murray three times in the final in Melbourne, including last year, and the latest seedings ensure the pair will again be in opposite halves of the draw.

Murray is gunning for his first Australian Open title and third major triumph overall after winning the US Open in 2012 and Wimbledon in 2013.

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Placed in order of the world rankings, 17-time grand slam champion Roger Federer is seeded third and Stan Wawrinka fourth, while Rafael Nadal lurks at five.

The Spaniard, who struggled for form last year, will be placed to meet one of the top four in the quarter-finals when the draw is made on Friday.

Defending champion Serena Williams will be the top seed in the women’s tournament as she bids to bounce back from her US Open heartache four months ago.

Williams withdrew from the Hopman Cup earlier this month with a knee injury but is expected to be fit as she bids to equal Steffi Graf’s Open-era record of 22 grand slam titles.

Romanian Simona Halep is seeded second and 2008 winner Maria Sharapova is fifth.

Play at the first major tournament of the year starts on Monday.

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