AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW

THE FACTS

WHEN: Starts Monday and concludes Jan. 31.

WHERE: Melbourne Park, Menlbourne, Australia.

SURFACE: Hardcourts (Rebound Ace).

PRIZE MONEY: $11.75 million.

MEN

SEEDED PLAYERS: Marcello Rios (Chile), Alex Corretja (Spain), Patrick Rafter (Australia), Carlos Moya (Spain), Andre Agassi (Las Vegas), Tim Henman (Britain), Karol Kucera (Slovakia), Greg Rusedski (Britain), Richard Krajicek (Netherlands) Yevgeny Kafelnikov (Russia), Goran Ivanisevic (Croatia), Albert Costa (Spain), Cedric Pioline (France), Mark Philippoussis (Australia), Todd Martin (Ponte Verde, Fla.), Thomas Johansson (Sweden).

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS

Singles, Petr Korda defeated Marcelo Rios, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2.

Doubles, Jacco Eltingh and Jonas Bjorkman.

MEN’S SINGLES FINAL: Jan 31.

A LOOK AHEAD: U.S. Open finalists and fellow Australians Patrick Rafter and Mark Philippoussis would meet in the fourth round. Also, Korda could play Rios in a rematch of last year’s final in the fourth round.

COUNTRY HEROES: The last Australians to win singles title were Mark Edmondson in 1976 ad Chris O’Neil in 1978. Both players are the only unseeded players to ever win the Open.

WOMEN

SEEDED PLAYERS: Linsay Davenport (Newport Beach), Martina Hingis (Switzerland), Jana Novotna (Czech Republic), Arantxa Sanchez Vicario (Spain), Venus Williams (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.), Monica Seles (Sarasota, Fla.) Mary Pierce (France), Patty Schnyder (Switzerland), Conchita Martinez (Spain), Steffi Graf (Germany), Dominique Van Roost (Belgium), Anna Kournikova (Russia), Irina Spirlea (Romania), Sandrine Testud (France), Natasha Zvereva (Belarus), Amanda Coetzer (South Africa).

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS

Singles, Martina Hingis defeated Conchita Martinez, 6-3, 6-3

Doubles, Hingis and Mirjana Lucic.

WOMEN’S SINGLES FINAL: Jan. 30.

A LOOK AHEAD: Lindsay Davenport could face Venus Williams in the quarterfinals. Also, unseeded Anke Huber, a semifinalist last year, will meet No. 13 Irina Spirlea in the first round.

For Monday’s opening round matches, see Page 14.