Tim Henman's hopes of securing his first Grand Slam success at this month's Australian Open have been hindered by a tough draw in Melbourne.

The British number one will face Frenchman Jerome Golmard, currently ranked 35 in the world, in the first round next week and is also in the same half of the draw as Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras.

Golmard beat Henman in the first round of the 1998 Australian Open, winning the deciding set of a marathon tussle 11-9 after Henman had twice come from behind.

And the Frenchman, who has already won a tournament in India this year, also emerged victorious on the two occasions the players met in 1999.

Golmard secured a 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 win in Dubai in February and a 6-4 7-6 (9-7) victory at Key Biscane in Florida last March.

Henman has only countered those three losses, all on hardcourt surfaces, with a 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 6-3 success at Wimbledon in 1997 and a 6-4 6-1 win in Tokyo in 1998.

Defending champion Yevgeni Kafelnikov is in the bottom half of the draw and is seeded to meet fourth seed Nicolas Kiefer in the semi-finals.

In the women's draw, US Open champion Serena Williams has been put in the top half of the draw with top seed and defending champion Martina Hingis, with France's fourth seed Mary Pierce in the bottom half of the draw with second seed Lindsay Davenport.

Seeds

Men

Andre Agassi (USA x1) v Mark Philippoussis (Aus x16)
Richard Krajicek (Ned x9) v Todd Martin (USA x8)
Pete Sampras (USA x3) v Karol Kucera (Svk x14)
Tim Henman (Gbr x11) v Thomas Enqvist (Swe x6)
Gustavo Kuerten (Bra x5) v Magnus Norman (Swe x12)
Cedric Pioline (Fra x13) v Nicolas Kiefer (Ger x4)
Nicolas Lapentti (Ecu x7) v Tommy Haas (Ger x10)
Albert Costa (Spa x15) v Yevgeny Kafelnikov (Rus x2).

Women

Martina Hingis (Swi x1) v Sandrine Testud (Fra x12)
Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario (Spa x13) v Barbara Schett (Aut x6)
Serena Williams (USA x3) v Elena Likhovtseva (Rus x16)
Conchita Martinez (Spa x10) v Amanda Coetzer (Rsa x8)
Amelie Mauresmo (Fra x7) v Dominique Van Roost (Bel x14)
Anke Huber (Ger x15) v Mary Pierce (Fra x4)
Nathalie Tauziat (Fra x5) v Julie Halard-Decugis (Fra x9)
Anna Kournikova (Rus x11) v Lindsay Davenport (USA x2).