Federer, Henin named top seeds for U.S. Open

Three-time defending champion Roger Federer and 2003 winner Justine Henin have been installed as top seeds for the U.S. Open, which begins next Monday.

Both players are ranked No. 1 in the world. Federer currently holds the Australian Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open titles and is the top men's seed for a fourth consecutive year.

Federer, who already has five titles this season, beat American Andy Roddick in the 2006 final. The super Swiss will try to become the first man to win four straight titles in Flushing in the Open era. Ivan Lendl was the last to win three straight, accomplishing the feat from 1985-87.

The 11-time Grand Slam event champion, Federer, who has held the No. 1 ranking since January 2004, picked up his 50th career title on Sunday by topping American James Blake at the Cincinnati Masters.

Henin, a six-time titlist in 2007, including Sunday's championship in Toronto, was a finalist at the U.S. Open last year, but lost to Russian Maria Sharapova. The Belgian Henin, a six-time major champion, won the French Open in June, the third straight year she's captured the crown at Roland Garros.

Spaniard Rafael Nadal, the reigning French Open champ, is seeded second among the men, followed by Novak Djokovic of Serbia, Nikolay Davydenko of Russia, Roddick and Blake.

Known mostly as a clay-court specialist, Nadal hasn't advanced past the quarterfinals in four tries at the U.S. Open. Although he has been the runner- up at Wimbledon, a grass court, the last two years, he's had a more difficult time on the hardcourt surface in Flushing. Last year, Nadal was beaten by Russian Mikhail Youzhny in the round of eight.

Roddick was the 2003 champion in Flushing for his lone Grand Slam title, while Blake's best showing was a quarterfinal berth in both 2005 and '06.

Following Henin is Sharapova, Jelena Jankovic of Serbia, Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia, the 2004 US Open champion, and Ana Ivanovic of Serbia.

Serena Williams is seeded eighth, while her sister, Venus, is 12th. They have combined for four U.S. Open titles, from 1999-2002. A left wrist injury forced Venus out of the tournament last year, while Serena exited in the fourth round, beaten by Amelie Mauresmo of France. Mauresmo, who was the top seed in 2007, is not playing this year due to a right adductor strain.