Federer is top seed for U.S. Open

Flushing, N.Y. -- World No. 1 and three-time defending champion Roger Federer was installed as the top men's seed for the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York.

The U.S. Open, the tennis year's final Grand Slam event, begins Monday with the men's singles final set for Sept. 9.

Federer won the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles and finished second at the French Open this season. He won his fifth championship of the year -- and 50th of his career -- on Sunday at the Cincinnati Masters.

He is seeking to become the first man in the Open era to win the U.S. Open four consecutive years.

Rafael Nadal, who is ranked No. 2 in the world and who beat Federer for the French Open championship, is seeded second with Novak Djokovic third and Andy Roddick fourth.

Nikolay Davydenko was made the No. 5 seed with Fernando Gonzalez sixth, Tommy Robredo seventh and Richard Gasquet eighth.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.