Djokovic, Serena top seeds for US Open

New York, AUgust 26

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World No. 1s Serena Williams, aiming to complete the first calendar-year Grand Slam in 27 years, and Novak Djokovic have been named the top seeds for the US Open starting on Monday in New York. Williams, winner of the last three US women’s singles crowns at Flushing Meadows, is followed on the seeding list by No. 2 Simona Halep of Romania, a 2014 French Open finalist. Russia’s Maria Sharapova, the 2006 US Open winner, is seeded third with 2014 US Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark seeded fourth.

Five-times US Open champion Roger Federer is the second seed for the men’s event where the top-10 seeds feature five US Open champions and six Grand Slam winners in all. In addition to 2011 champion Djokovic of Serbia and Switzerland’s Federer (2004-08), former US champions include Andy Murray (2012), Rafael Nadal (2010, 13) and last year’s winner Marin Cilic of Croatia. Scotland’s Murray is seeded third, Spaniard Nadal is eighth and Cilic seeded ninth.

A victory for Serena Williams would make her the fourth woman to sweep all four slams in a single season, joining Maureen Connolly (1953), Margaret Court (1970) and Steffi Graf (1988). It would also be the American’s seventh US Open singles crown, breaking her tie atop the all-time list with Chris Evert, and move her into a tie for second on the career Grand Slam singles list with Graf at 22, two behind Court.

Nadal sounds confident

Former world No. 1 Rafa Nadal is feeling confident about his chances of competing for a third US Open title. “I hope to be ready for it. I have been playing well the last couple of weeks. I think I’m in better shape than a few months ago,” said the 29-year old Spaniard.

Nadal, who won the US Open in 2010 and 2013 but missed last year’s tournament due to illness and injury, was ousted from Wimbledon in a shock second round exit but has claimed three titles in 2015 — Hamburg, Stuttgart and Buenos Aires. — Reuters

Somdev, Myneni lose in qualifier 

Somdev Devvarman and Saketh Myneni could not cross even the first hurdle at the US Open Qualifiers as both the Indian Davis Cuppers lost their openers after winning first sets against their respective rivals. Somdev, who has been struggling for a long time now on the Tour, lost 7-5, 5-7, 1-6 against the Slovakian 20th seed Nerbert Gombos.

Saketh also had a one-set advantage but ended up losing 6-4, 4-6, 1-6 against Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff. India still have two players striving to make the main draw in Yuki Bhambri and Ramkumar Ramanathan.