Nadal, Ivanovic head US Open seedings

NEW YORK – New No. 1 Rafael Nadal and Ana Ivanovic head the US Open seedings for the first time. The US Open, starting on Monday, followed the rankings in announcing the seeds on Tuesday. Nadal took over as the men’s top-ranked player on Monday, ending Roger Federer’s 237-week reign since February 2004. The Spaniard had been second to Federer since July 2005, a span of 160 consecutive weeks. He beat Federer in the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon, and will try to become the first man to add the US Open in the same year since Rod Laver in 1969. He’s never been beyond the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows and lost in the fourth round last year. Nadal won the Olympic singles on Sunday. Federer, meanwhile, has won the last four US Opens. He had been seeded No. 1 at every major since May 2004. Australian Open champ Novak Djokovic was seeded No. 3. The rest of the top 10 was David Ferrer of Spain, Nikolay Davydenko of Russia, Andy Murray of Britain, David Nalbandian of Argentina, 2003 champion Andy Roddick of the United States, James Blake of the United States, and Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland, who won the Olympic doubles with Federer. Ivanovic won her maiden Grand Slam at the French Open, where she also vaulted to No. 1 for the first time. Fellow Serb Jelena Jankovic became No. 1 last week but was replaced by Ivanovic this week. Jankovic will be seeded No. 2 at the US Open, followed by 2004 champ Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia, two-time champ Serena Williams, new Olympic champ Elena Dementieva of Russia, two-time champ Venus Williams, Vera Zvonareva of Russia, Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, and Anna Chakvetadze of Russia. The last two US Open women’s champions are out of the upcoming tournament — Justine Henin retired and Maria Sharapova was injured. The draw is on Thursday. – AP