The World No.26 is the only singles player to get seeded higher than her current ranking at this year's U.S. Open. Serena Williams received a seeding bump of nine spots form the U.S. Open seeding committee and thus will be seeded 17 at this year’s tournament.

Williams, a six-time U.S. Open champion, is the only player in either the men’s singles or women’s singles draw to be seeded above her ranking.

It’s great news for the American, who will now avoid a Top 8 player in the first three rounds of the tournament. Had Williams been seeded in accordance with her ranking of 26 in the world, she would have been seeded to face a player ranked No.1 through No.8 in the world in the third round.

Tennis Express

As it stands now, if Williams advances to the third round she would be slated to face a No.9 through No.16 seed.

Here are the current U.S. Open women’s singles seeds:


“After balancing a variety of factors, including her return to competition following the birth of her daughter, her recent hard-court performance this summer and recognition of her achievements at the US Open, the USTA has moved Serena Williams’ seeding nine spots, from 26 to 17," said Managing Director of Corporate Communications Chris Widmaier. "We feel this is the appropriate decision, one that recognizes Serena and is fair to the remaining seeded players.”

Main draw play at this year’s U.S. Open begins on Monday August 27. The tournament is celebrating the arrival of a second roof on the newly rebuilt Louis Armstrong Stadium.

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