'12 champ Serena Williams seeded No. 1 for US Open

NEW YORK -- Serena Williams will be seeded No. 1 at the U.S. Open as she tries to do something she's never done: win a second consecutive title at Flushing Meadows.

Williams is a four-time champion at the U.S. Open, including in 2012. Only Chris Evert, with six, and Steffi Graf, with five, have won the tournament more times in the Open era, which began in 1968.

The U.S. Tennis Association stuck to the WTA rankings Tuesday in announcing the 32 seeded women, including Victoria Azarenka at No. 2, and Maria Sharapova at No. 3. Williams is one of three seeded Americans; No. 16 Sloane Stephens and No. 24 Jamie Hampton are the others.

Venus Williams, who won the U.S. Open in 2000 and 2001, is the only unseeded past champion.