Australian Open seed gives Lloyd Harris a boost

One of South Africa’s fastest rising sport stars, Lloyd Harris, will be eager to build on his momentum from a breakthrough 2021 season when he turns out among the seeds for the Australian Open.

Having reached the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time at Melbourne Park last year, Harris went on to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open at the end of a superb season.

After rocketing up the ATP rankings, the world no 32 was announced as the No 30 seed for the first top-flight tournament of the year, which starts on Monday.

✅Seeds set for #AO2022 #AusOpen official draw ➡️ Thursday 13 January.https://t.co/J7jgT6Inco

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 11, 2022

As a seeded player, the 24-year-old South African will be given a significant boost by receiving a favourable draw for the 110th edition of the annual event.

Serbian star and defending champion Novak Djokovic was announced as the top seed for the tournament, though it remained unclear whether he would actually turn out following a controversial build-up which included a four-day stay in a ‘detention hotel’ and winning a court battle to be cleared for a visa.

ALSO READ: Djokovic trains as Australian Open dream hangs in balance

Women’s world No 1 Ashleigh Barty, meanwhile, will be eager to shine in front of her home crowd after the Australian player was confirmed as the top seed for the women’s tournament.

Defending champion Naomi Osaka will turn out as the No 13 seed.

Men’s seeds

1. Novak Djokovic (SRB)

2. Daniil Medvedev (RUS)

3. Alexander Zverev (GER)

4. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE)

5. Andery 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. Dan 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 Alcarez (ESP)

32. Alex de Minaur (AUS)

Women’s seeds

1. Ashleigh Barty (AUS)

2. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR)

3. Garbine 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 (ROM)

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)