Andy Murray has been confirmed as the No2 seed for the US Open which starts in New York on Monday, the highest position he has every held at a Grand Slam.

It is reward for the Briton's rise up the world rankings and means he cannot face defending champion Roger Federer - the man who beat him in last year's final - unless they repeat that meeting.

The seeding for the tournament at Flushing Meadows follows the ATP world rankings giving five-time champion Federer top spot with fit again Spaniard Rafael Nadal seeded third. The draw for the first round takes place tomorrow.

Murray (below) is practising this week ahead, deciding to skip the Pilot Pen tournament in New Haven.

At that event, No1 seed Nikolay Davydenko edged through to the third round after being pushed all the way by American Robbie Kendrick in the first set.

The Russian, needed a marathon tie-break to move ahead, finally winning it 12-10, before breaking in game eight of the second set to seal a 7-6, 6-3 win.

Things were a little easier for second seed Fernando Verdasco, who cruised to a 6-0, 6-3 win over Paul Capdeville. His fellow Spaniard, and third seed, Tommy Robredo became the highest-profile casualty so far when he was beaten 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 by Jose Acasuso.

Robredo seemed set for a comfortable night when he claimed the first set with a pair of breaks but Acasuso secured the crucial break in the second before a see-saw third set went to a tie-break.

In the women's draw, Amelie Mauresmo strolled past Alona Bondarenko 6-1, 6-1, while Anna Chakvetadze saw off Sybille Bammer 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.