Azarenka seeded No. 1, Williams No. 4 for Open
Top-ranked
Victoria Azarenka will be seeded No. 1 at the U.S. Open, with 2006 champion
Maria Sharapova at No. 3, and three-time winner Serena Williams at No. 4.
The U.S.
Tennis Association announced the seedings Wednesday, strictly following this
week's WTA rankings.
Azarenka,
who won the Australian Open in January, is followed by No. 2 Agnieszka
Radwanska, the runner-up to Williams at Wimbledon last month.
Defending
U.S. Open champion Sam Stosur is seeded seventh, and three-time winner Kim
Clijsters is No. 23.
Venus
Williams, who won the Open in 2000 and 2001, is ranked 47th and is unseeded.
The USTA
said Tuesday that Roger Federer is seeded No. 1 among the men.
The draw is
Thursday. Play begins Monday.