Sydney International latest headlines

After an encouraging victory in his comeback match in Sydney yesterday, Argentinian Juan Martin del Potro continued the defence of the title he won twelve months ago with an even better result to knock out the number one seed for the tournament, Fabio Fognini in three sets. It was a bit more of a struggle to overcome the Italian as one might have expected, but he eventually came through 4-6 6-2 6-2.

The number two seed was also defeated in the second round as Simone Bolelli kept the Italian flags flying to beat the fancied Belgium David Goffin in straight sets.

That wasn't the end of the surprises as the number three seed, Philipp Kohlschreiber from Germany became a further victim of the seeds' "curse" in Sydney, as the Aussie Bernard Tomic demonstrated that he could be a threat in Melbourne next week by winning 6-3 6-4.

In the women's event, Wimbledon champion and number two seed Petra Kvitova is through to the semi-finals after a hard-fought three set victory over Australian world number 70, Jarmila Gajdosova.

Brit Watch

Australian Open qualifying has already begun in Melbourne, providing the opportunity for additional players to join the main draw. Two of the promising young Britains have been in action and are now within two matches of reaching the first round proper.

Kyle Edmund and Liam Broady both won their first matches in the qualifying rounds. Edmund beat Tristan Lamasine from France in straight sets, while countryman Broady was equally convincing in overcoming a higher ranked opponent from Uzbekistan in Uzbek Farrukh. Fellow Brit Brydan Klein went out to local Aussie favourite Dane Propoggia.

Australian Open seedings announced

With the first Grand Slam of the year due to commence on Monday in Melbourne, the seedings have been announced for both the men and the women for the Australian Open and unsurprisingly they see Britain's Andy Murray ranked number six in the men's draw. Serbian Novak Djokovic is seeded one in the men's and America's Serena Williams occupies the equivalent seeding for the women.

Heather Watson will be unseeded for the tournament to reflect her current world ranking and hence could potentially draw one of the major seeds in the early rounds. She joins a former champion in Victoria Azarenka in that situation, as she has slid down the world rankings to number 41 after an injury-stricken year.