Karolina Pliskova, Andy Murray lead direct-entry fields for U.S. Open

In-this-Tuesday,-July-4,-2017-file-photo-Czech-Republic's-Karolina-Pliskova-celebrates-after-beating-Russia's-Evgeniya-Rodina-during-their-Women's-Singles-Match-on-day-two-at-the-Wimbledon-Tennis-Championships-in-London.-(Kirsty-Wigglesworth/AP)

In this Tuesday, July 4, 2017 file photo Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova celebrates after beating Russia's Evgeniya Rodina during their Women's Singles Match on day two at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London. (Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP)

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — New WTA No. 1 Karolina Pliskova and top-ranked man Andy Murray headline the direct entry lists for the U.S. Open.

Pliskova, the 2016 runner-up at Flushing Meadows, is joined by four past U.S. Open champions: Angelique Kerber, Venus Williams, Sam Stosur and Svetlana Kuznetsova. Other past Grand Slam champions in the field: Garbine Muguruza, Petra Kvitova, Francesca Schiavone, Victoria Azarenka and Jelena Ostapenko.

There are 13 Americans among the 99 women receiving direct entry, more than any other country.

Six-time U.S. Open champion Serena Williams (pregnant) and Bethanie Mattek-Sands (knee surgery) are among the women who will not be competing in New York.

Azarenka, Sloane Stephens, Anna-Lena Friedsam, Alja Tomljanovic and Sabine Lisicki used a special ranking to get into the main draw.

Murray, who won his first major title at the U.S. Open in 2012, is joined by these other past champs in the field: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka, Marin Cilic and Juan Martin del Potro.

Using protected rankings to get in: Andreas Haider-Maurer, Thanasi Kokkinakis, John Millman, Dmitry Tursunov and Ricardas Berankis.

Main-draw play at the U.S. Open begins Aug. 28.

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