Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a return to Andy Murray of Britain during their championship match at the Cincinnati Open tennis tournament in Cincinnati, Ohio, Aug 21, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

NEW YORK - Serbia's world number one Novak Djokovic was named on Wednesday, as expected, as the top seed for the Aug 29 - Sept 11 US Open.

It marked the first time Djokovic was seeded number one for the year's final grand slam.

Djokovic has never won the US Open but has been in great form this year, losing just two matches all season and winning the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

Defending US Open champion Rafa Nadal was seeded second as tournament organizers stuck with their practice of following the official world rankings to decide the seedings.

Switzerland's Roger Federer, a five-time US Open winner, was seeded third, ahead of Britain's Andy Murray, the only player in the top four yet to win a grand slam.

There were two other former champions among the 32 seeds. Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro, the 2009 winner, was listed 18th while American Andy Roddick, the 2003 victor, was seeded 21st.

Charts men's and women's seeds for US Open Tennis Championship