World #1 Rafael Nadal has been seeded first in the U.S. Open Tennis Championship starting on Monday, despite never reaching a men’s singles final at the tournament. The second seed goes to Roger Federer, who has won the U.S. Open five times and was the runner-up last year to Juan Martin del Potro. That is reason enough for bookmakers to put Federer at the top of the betting lines instead of Nadal.

Nadal was out last season with an injury but made the U.S. Open semifinals in 2007 and 2008. Those have been his best finishes, making the U.S. Open the only Grand Slam event he hasn’t won or played for in the final. It is well known that he plays better on clay and struggles on the fast hard courts of Flushing Meadows. He did play stunningly well at Wimbledon this year, but it is more reasonable to back Nadal to be eliminated in the semifinal stage again.

Andy Murray was a U.S. Open finalist in 2008, beating Nadal in the semifinal and losing to Federer in a lopsided final. Murray is the four seed so look for him to get into the semifinals at the very least. He beat Nadal and Federer two weeks ago on his way to winning the ATP 1000 Toronto Masters. Murray is third in the U.S. Open odds. Bookmakers have set the winner coming from the top three seeds, but Del Potro was a five seed when he won it last year. He won’t be able to defend his title because of a wrist injury. Novak Djokovic is the third seed after being the runner-up to Federer in 2008. Djokovic is no stranger to hard court wins after taking the 2008 Australia Open. Other players with each-way value include two –time Grand Slam finalist Robin Soderling and 2010 Wimbledon runner-up Tomas Berdych.

U.S. Open Men’s Tournament Winner (provided by Party Bets)

Roger Federer: 9/4

Rafael Nadal: 11/4

Andy Murray: 3/1

Novak Djokovic: 11/1

Tomas Berdych: 12/1

David Nalbandian: 14/1

Robin Soderling: 14/1

Andy Roddick: 16/1

Mardy Fish: 33/1

Marin Cilic: 33/1

Nikolay Davydenko: 33/1

Fernando Verdasco: 50/1

Marcos Baghdatis: 50/1

Sam Querrey: 50/1