US Open 2012: Federer, Djokovic, Murray & Ferrer head men’s seedings
Five-time US Open champion Roger Federer is named top seed in the men’s draw ahead of this month's tournament
With Roger Federer’s No1 consolidated by his fifth Cincinnati Masters title on Sunday, the five-time US Open champion has been named top seed in the men’s draw when the tournament begins at Flushing Meadows on Monday 28 August.
Federer won the US Open from 2004 to 2008 to share with Pete Sampras and Jimmy Connors the record for most titles won in the Open Era.
Federer heads the man he beat in Cincinnati—defending US Champion Novak Djokovic is seeded No2—and, with Rafael Nadal absent with injury, Andy Murray takes the No3 spot with David Ferrer at No4.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who is back in action this week after cutting open his knee during the Canadian Masters, is seeded No5, with Tomas Berdych at No6 and Juan Martin del Potro at No7. The four Americans in the seedings are headed by No9 at John Isner.
Milos Raonic, who rose three places in the ATP rankings this week, has been rewarded for his late surge by creeping into the top 16 and thus avoids meeting a higher seeded player until at least the fourth round. Conversely Philipp Kohlschreiber, who dropped three places this week, finds himself outside the top 16. However, a late charge by Jeremy Chardy has won him the last seeded place at 32.
Along with Nadal, three other men have withdrawn ahead of Thursday’s draw: Gael Monfils, Juan Ignacio Chela and Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Wild cards therefore now comprise: Benjamin Becker, James Blake, Robby Ginepri, Lleyton Hewitt, Steve Johnson, Denis Kudla, Dennis Novikov, Rajeev Ram, Olivier Rochus, Guillaume Rufin, Jack Sock and Adrian Ungur.
Among the hopefuls competing for 16 places in the main draw via the qualifying rounds are Britons Josh Goodall, ranked 195, and James Ward, No 250. The 128-draw began today and concludes on Friday.
US Open 2012: Men’s seeds
1 Roger Federer, Switzerland
2 Novak Djokovic, Serbia
3 Andy Murray, Great Britain
4 David Ferrer, Spain
5 Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, France
6 Tomas Berdych, Czech Republic
7 Juan Martin Del Potro, Argentina
8 Janko Tipsarevic, Serbia
9 John Isner, United States
10 Juan Monaco, Argentina
11 Nicolas Almagro, Spain
12 Marin Cilic, Croatia
13 Richard Gasquet, France
14 Alexandr Dolgopolov, Ukraine
15 Milos Raonic, Canada
16 Gilles Simon, France
17 Kei Nishikori, Japan
18 Stanislas Wawrinka, Switzerland
19 Philipp Kohlschreiber, Germany
20 Andy Roddick, United States
21 Tommy Haas, Germany
22 Florian Mayer, Germany
23 Mardy Fish, United States
24 Marcel Granollers, Spain
25 Fernando Verdasco, Spain
26 Andreas Seppi, Italy
27 Sam Querrey, United States
28 Mikhail Youzhny, Russia
29 Viktor Troicki, Serbia
30 Feliciano Lopez, Spain
31 Julien Benneteau, France
32 Jeremy Chardy, France
