In an unusual move, Venus Williams was seeded third for the Australian Open on Thursday — eight spots higher than her current world ranking.

American tennis player Venus Williams practices for the Australian Open Tennis Tournament in Melbourne Wednesday, Jan, 14, 2004. The tournament starts on Jan. 19. [AP]

Andy Roddick and Justine Henin-Hardenne, the world's top-ranked tennis players, earned No. 1 seedings. For the most part, the seedings — 32 each for men and women — generally followed the ATP and WTA rankings.

But an exception was made for Venus Williams, last year's runner-up to sister Serena.

Venus is seeded behind Belgians Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters, first and second on the WTA rankings. Amelie Mauresmo of France and American Lindsay Davenport round out the top five.

The Australian Open usually lists its seeded players according to their world rankings, but tournament director Paul McNamee said an exception was made for Venus, formerly the top-ranked player.

"Venus will be seeded three under a special seeding which the WTA had recommended for the next group of tournaments," McNamee said.

Venus, a four-time Grand Slam champion, missed nine tournaments between July and November last year with an abdominal injury. Her year-end ranking slid from No. 2 to No. 11.

Mauresmo would have expected to be seeded fifth but was elevated to No. 4 when defending champion Serena Williams withdrew after failing to recover in time from knee surgery last August.

Still, Mauresmo was critical of the WTA for the seeding of Venus.

"The recommendation is not fair or consistent," Mauresmo said. "I feel like I am being penalized because she was injured."

An Australian Open organizing committee spokesman said Venus had been given a "protected ranking," taking into account her record before she was sidelined with injury.

Davenport has most to lose after dropping to fifth, meaning she gets a harder run to the semifinals.

"I think the tour did some research at the end of last year," said the 2000 Australian Open champion, on the comeback from foot surgery last October. "The Williamses have obviously, when they've played, been extremely dominating."

No. 2-ranked Clijsters said she thought Venus Williams' seeding was "fair enough."

"She's definitely the player that should be up there," Clijsters said.

Roddick, who vaulted to the top spot after winning the U.S. Open in September, is looking to improve on his semifinal loss here last year.

Defending champion Andre Agassi is seeded fourth. The 33-year-old American beat No. 2 Roger Federer, the reigning Wimbledon champion, on Thursday in a warmup event as he seeks his fifth Australian Open title and ninth Grand Slam crown. He has won in Melbourne three of the last four years, missing out only in 2002 when he was sidelined by a wrist injury.

The United States has six men among the seeded players, followed by Spain with five, including No. 3 Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Henin-Hardenne won eight tournaments in 2003, including the French and U.S. Opens. She is seeking her third Grand Slam title against a field depleted by the injury-related withdrawals of former champions Serena Williams, Jennifer Capriati and Mary Pierce.

Clijsters also has been fighting injury problems. She was forced out of the Hopman Cup in Perth last week after injuring her left ankle.

Russians accounted for one-quarter of the seeded players in the women's draw, led by No. 6 Anastasia Myskina and No. 7 Elena Dementieva. Venus Williams heads five Americans, including No. 9 Chanda Rubin, among the top 32 women.

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