US Open 2013: Defending champion Andy Murray seeded third

Seeds based on last world rankings

Andy Murray (GETTY IMAGES)

Novak Djokovic has been named the top seed for the US Open with Rafael Nadal seeded second and defending champion Andy Murray third.

The top seedings for the tournament, which begins next week, have stayed faithful to the latest world rankings, with Roger Federer seeded seventh after dropping two places.

It is the first time he has been seeded outside the top three at a Grand Slam tournament in the past decade. Federer, a five-time US Open champion, was the top seed last year.

Djokovic has reached the semi-finals of the US Open in each of the last six years, making the final four times and winning it all in 2011.

Djokovic was in last year's final, but lost in five sets to Murray, who became the first British player since 1977, and first British man since 1936, to win a Grand Slam tournament with the victory.

PA