Defending champs Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka top seeds for US Open

US Open - Novak Djokovic

World No 1s Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka have been named top seeds for the 2019 US Open, but they will start the defence of their titles in contrasting form.

Djokovic will head to Flushing Meadows having won two Grand Slams already this year as he took his major tally to 16 with success at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

The Serb is followed in the men’s seedings by 2017 US Open winner Rafael Nadal with five-time champion Roger Federer seeded third head of French Open runner-up Dominic Thiem, Daniil Medvedev, who won his maiden ATP Masters title at the Cincinnati Open on Sunday, and ATP Finals champion Alexander Zverev.

The 2014 champion Marin Cilic is seeded 22nd while Stan Wawrinka, who won in 2016, is seeded one spot below the Croatian with Great Britain’s Kyle Edmund 30th, two spots below Nick Kyrgios.

In the women’s side, Osaka just about hung onto the top spot in the world rankings ahead of the US Open after Ashleigh Barty failed to make the final in Cincinnati.

As a result the two-time Grand Slam winner, who has struggled for form since winning the Australian Open at the start of the year, claims the top seed ahead of Barty, world No 3 Karolina Pliskova and Wimbledon champion Simona Halep.

Last year’s finalist Serena Williams, who is looking for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title, is seeded eighth while former champions Sloane Stephens (11th) and Angelique Kerber (14th) are also in the top 20.

Great Britain’s Johanna Konta finds herself seeded 16th for the final Grand Slam of the year.

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