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Sampras, Hingis named top seeds at U.S. Open

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Posted: Tuesday August 24, 1999 03:44 PM

Martina Hingis is the only non-American seeded among the top four women. AP

WHITE PLAINS, New York (Ticker) -- Seeking a record 13th Grand Slam singles title, American Pete Sampras will be joined by Switzerland's Martina Hingis as the top seeds for next week's U.S. Open Tennis Championships, the USTA announced Tuesday.

French Open champion Andre Agassi is the second seed, marking the fifth time in the Open Era (since 1968) that two American men have been seeded 1-2 at the U.S. Open.

Australian Open champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia is the third seed, followed by two-time defending champion Patrick Rafter of Australia.

For the first time since 1988, three American women are among the top four seeds. Defending champion and reigning Wimbledon champion Lindsay Davenport is the second seed, followed by 1997 runner-up Venus Williams and two-time champion Monica Seles.

Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil is the fifth seed on the men's side, followed by Britain's Tim Henman, American Todd Martin and 1998 semifinalist Carlos Moya of Spain.

A finalist in 1997, Britain's Greg Rusedski is the ninth seed, followed by Marcelo Rios of Chile and last year's runner-up, Mark Philippoussis of Australia. Philippoussis may not be able to compete due to the knee injury he suffered at Wimbledon which has not fully recovered and forced him to pull out of this week's Hamlet Cup event in Long Island.

Rounding out the 16 seeds are Richard Krajicek of the Netherlands, Spain's Alex Corretja, Germans Tommy Haas and Nicolas Kiefer and Australian Open semifinalist Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador, fresh off a victory at last week's RCA Championships in Indiana.

Mary Pierce of France is the fifth seed for the women, followed by Amanda Coetzer of South Africa, American teenager Serena Williams and Jana Novotna of the Czech Republic, a semifinalist last year.

Julie Halard-Decugis of France, who has reached five finals and won two tournaments this season, is the ninth seed; 1994 champion Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario of Spain is seeded 10th; and Nathalie Tauziat of France is No. 11.

Rounding out the 16 women's seeds are Austria's Barbara Schett, Belgium's Dominique Van Roost, France's Sandrine Testud and Australian Open runner-up Amelie Mauresmo and Spain's Conchita Martinez.

 

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