Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies

Agassi and Clijsters nab top seeds for U.S. Open

NEW YORK - Andre Agassi and Kim Clijsters were seeded No. 1 Monday for the U.S. Open, which starts Aug. 25.

Agassi counts the 1994 and 1999 Opens among his eight major titles, and Clijsters is seeking her first Grand Slam victory. They top the current rankings.

Clijsters and French Open winner Justine Henin-Hardenne make Belgium the first country other than the United States to have women seeded Nos. 1 and 2 at the Open. It is the first time since 1994 an American woman was not in the top two.

1998 Open champion Lindsay Davenport is No. 3, followed by 2000-01 champ Venus Williams, Amelie Mauresmo and Saddlebrook's Jennifer Capriati.

After Agassi - at 33, the oldest man ranked No. 1 - Wimbledon champion Roger Federer is seeded second, French Open champ Juan Carlos Ferrero third and Andy Roddick fourth. Neither defending champ is entered for the first time since 1971. Pete Sampras has not played since beating Agassi in last year's final, and Serena Williams had knee surgery.

ATP CHAMPIONS RACE: Roddick jumped atop the calendar-year standings after winning a second straight tournament. He beat Tampa's Mardy Fish Sunday at the Cincinnati Masters for his fifth title of the year.

BLAKE OPENS MARKET: Tampa's James Blake opened the American Stock Exchange by striking the bell seven times, matching the number of victories he needs to win the U.S. Open. Blake is competing in the TD Waterhouse Cup, an Open tuneup.

A pilot was past the limit where he could safely operate a motor vehicle when his helicopter crashed minutes before it was to pick up NASCAR owner Joe Gibbs during the 2002 Daytona 500 race weekend, a Volusia County medical examiner's report said. The pilot, Michael Hugh McNellis, 56, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.11 percent. The threshold is 0.08. Robin A. Leedom, 43, also died. A National Transportation Safety Board report said there were low clouds and reduced visibility at the time of the accident.

Jack Nicklaus took experience over major championships, selecting Jay Haas and Fred Funk - a combined 96 years old - to fill out his U.S. team that will try to retain the Presidents Cup. International team captain Gary Player used his two picks on K.J. Choi and Tim Clark, who was tied for the lead at the PGA Championship before finishing third. The Cup is set for Nov. 20-23 in South Africa.

U.S. AMATEUR: Ryan Moore, who won the 2002 U.S. Amateur Public Links, shot 5-under 65 to lead after the first day of medal play in Oakmont, Pa.

A decision on whether Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide will run in Saturday's Travers Stakes will be made Wednesday, trainer Barclay Tagg said. On Sunday, Tagg said it was "highly unlikely" the New York-bred gelding would run in the $1-million race at Saratoga. Tagg also said Funny Cide would not run in the Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 2 at Philadelphia Park if he does not run the Travers.

STEVENS UPDATE: Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens will be sidelined a month as he recovers from a fall during the Arlington (Ill.) Million. Stevens remained hospitalized in fair and stable condition and is being treated for a collapsed lung and fractured vertebra in his upper back. Patrick Valenzuela will replace Stevens in a match race against Hall of Fame rider Julie Krone on Sept. 7 at Del Mar.

NHL: Paul Kennedy will join the Lightning broadcast team as rinkside reporter on the 60 Sunshine Network broadcasts. He also will host a half-hour pregame show and a monthly Inside the Lightning show on the network. Kennedy replaces Mike Nabors, who joined the Ch. 38 newscast set to debut soon.