Federer and Mauresmo named as top seeds for the US Open

Defending men’s champion Roger Federer and women’s world No 1 Amelie Mauresmo have been named as the top seeds for the US Open, which begins at Flushing Meadows on Monday.

World No 1 Federer is looking to become only the third man in the Open era, after John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl, to win the title three years in succession.

Rafael Nadal, the world No 2 and French Open champion, is seeded second, while Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia and Argentine David Nalbandian are three and four.

Frenchwoman Mauresmo will be aiming to win the title for the first time, adding it to the Wimbledon and Australian Open crowns she won earlier this year.

Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne is the number two seed behind Mauresmo, with Russian Maria Sharapova at three and compatriot Elena Dementieva, the 2004 runner-up, at four. Reigning women’s champion Kim Clijsters of Belgium will miss the event due to a wrist injury. – Reuters