Federer confirmed as top seed for US Open

Five-time champion and world number one Roger Federer was confirmed yesterday as the top men’s seed at the US Open, the last Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year that starts on Monday at Flushing Meadows.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic is seeded second and world number four Andy Murray, of Britain, who won Olympic gold at Wimbledon, is seeded third – higher than his world ranking because of the injury absence of Spain’s Rafael Nadal.

Spain’s David Ferrer is seeded fourth.

The singles draw for the tournament, which runs from August 27-September 9, will be made tomorrow.

Federer, who won his 17th Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon, has won six titles in 2012, including his seventh Wimbledon singles and three ATP Masters Series titles.

The Swiss great won five straight US Open titles from 2004-2008.

Meanwhile, former finalist Vera Zvonareva has pulled out of the US Open due to an ongoing virus.

The 27-year-old former world no.2 has endured a frustrating year with injury and illness causing her to slip to 16th in the world.

Zvonareva, who lost the 2010 final to Kim Clijsters at Flushing Meadows, missed the French Open with a shoulder complaint before her illness struck.

The Russian retired midway through her third-round match with Clijsters at Wimbledon before being routed 6-0 6-1 by Serena Williams at the Olympics.

Zvonareva is the fourth player to withdraw from the women’s draw after compatriot, and former US Open winner, Svetlana Kuznetsova (knee), Kaia Kanepi (achilles) and Flavia Pennetta (wrist) also pulled out.

Australia’s Casey Dellacqua has been granted Zvonareva’s place in the field for the final grand slam of the year.