Tennis News

Federer opens title defence against Wang

Aug 23, 2006, 20:18 GMT

New York - Roger Federer begins his title defence at the US Open with a first-round match against number 109 Wang Yeu-Tzuoo of Taiwan while five former Grand Slam winners are unseeded after the draw made Wednesday.

The Swiss world number 1 Federar has been in New York for a week after a second-round upset loss in Cincinnati to British teenaged tyro Andy Murray.

The 19-year-old Murray got the 17th ranking after moving into the Top 20 this week.

Five former winners of majors will play unseeded, with the list headed by sentimental favourite Andre Agassi, making his career farewell at Flushing Meadows.

The 36-year-old opens in the first round against Romanian Andrei Pavel with a possible shot at Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis in the second round.

Others without seedings: Serena Williams (1999 and 2002 winner), Marat Safin (2000 US Open), Carlos Moya (1998 Roland Garros) and Thomas Johansson (2002 Australian Open).

Former winner Andy Roddick grabbed the ninth seeding by virtue of his Cincinnati title at the weekend over Juan Carlos Ferrero. Roddick won the preliminary US Open Series and could double his prize money of 1 million dollars were he to lift a second Open title.

The 25-year-old Federer has won seven trophies in 2006, his latest in Toronto this month. He is aiming to equal with Ivan Lendl (1985-87) and John McEnroe (1979-81) as the only men to win three consecutive Opens in the post-1968 era.

2001 New York trophyholder Lleyton Hewitt will come in without a match in nearly a month after a knee injury. Compatriot Mark Philippoussis, a wild card entry and former finalist, has drawn a tough assignment with a start against second seed Rafael Nadal.

Britons Tin Henman and Greg Rusedski face off in the first round with the winner likely to play Federer in the second.

On the women's side Amelie Mauresmo is seeded top while defending champion Kim Clijsters is missing the fortnight after injuring her left wrist in a fall last week in Canada.

Mauresmo has claimed her first two Grand Slam titles this season and is hoping to become the first woman to lift three majors in a year since Serena Williams four year ago.

Martina Hingis is back into the top 10 for the first time since her comeback to tennis at the start of the season, beginning against Peng Shuai of China. dpa bs jb