Agassi, Clijsters top US Open seedings ( 2003-08-19 09:14) (Agencies)
World number ones Andre Agassi and Kim Clijsters were named top seeds on
Monday for next week's US Open.
Andre Agassi
Agassi, runner-up
to Pete Sampras in 2002, will be hoping to live up to his top billing when the
year's final grand slam gets underway in New York next Monday.
The last time the American entered the tournament as the number one seed, in
2000, he lost in the second round.
Having won the event twice, Agassi is one of only three former champions in
the men's draw.
Sampras, winner of the hardcourt slam five times since 1990, has not played
competitively since capturing his 14th grand slam crown at the Open 12 months
ago.
Although he has yet to announce his retirement, the 32-year-old will not
defend his title.
Australia's Lleyton Hewitt, seeded sixth, and Russsia's Marat Safin in 26th
are the other former champions in the field.
Switzerland's Roger Federer, who emerged victorious at Wimbledon last month,
has been seeded second while French Open winner Juan Carlos Ferrero is third.
ARGENTINE CHALLENGE
Among the new generation of Americans, Andy Roddick, twice a grand slam
semi-finalist this year, and Mardy Fish have been slotted in fourth and 24th
respectively.
Fifth seed Guillermo Coria will lead a strong Argentine challenge at Flushing
Meadows.
He is joined by compatriots David Nalbandian in 13th spot, Agustin Calleri
(19th), Mariano Zabaleta (27th) and Gaston Gaudio (30th).
Newly-crowned world number one Clijsters heads the women's draw while her
fellow Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne is second.
With Serena Williams unable to defend her title after undergoing knee surgery
earlier this month, this marks the first time that Belgium players occupy the
top two spots at a grand slam.
It is also the first time in 32 years that both the men's and women's
champion will not defend their title. In 1971, holders Ken Rosewell and Margaret
Court skipped the event.
Henin-Hardenne, who claimed the French Open in June, has been elevated one
place above her world ranking following Williams's withdrawal.
Kim Clijsters
Clijsters -- the only player to be ranked number one without winning a grand
slam title since WTA rankings were introduced in 1975 -- will be bidding to
achieve her breakthrough at the Open.
Americans Lindsay Davenport and twice champion Venus Williams -- who has not
played since losing the Wimbledon final to her sister Serena last month -- have
been seeded third and fourth.
The draw for the US Open, which will be held from August 25 to September 7,
will be made on Wednesday.
