Seeded players: Watch them while you can

The second round of the 2009 U.S. Open has concluded, and half of the seeded players have been eliminated. Here are the seeds that are already gone:

4--Elena Dementieva (2nd round)
5--Jelena Jankovic (2nd round)
11--Ana Ivanovic (1st round)
12--Agnieszka Radwanska (2nd round)
14--Marion Bartoli (2nd round)
15--Samantha Stosur (2nd round)
16--Virginie Razzano (1st round)
17--Amelie Mauresmo (2nd round)
19--Patty Schnyder (2nd round)
20--Anabel Medina Garrigues (2nd round)
23--Sabine Lisicki (2nd round)
25--Kaia Kanepi (1st round)
27--Alisa Kleybanova (1st round)
28--Sybille Bammer (1st round)
30--Alona Bondarenko (2nd round)
32--Agnes Szavay (1st round)

With so many top players out of the competition, the draw has taken on a different flavor. Both Williams sisters are still around, as are Victoria Azarenka, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Flavia Pennetta, and Caroline Wozniacki. Maria Sharapova has held on, as has the world number 1. And a couple of former hard court stars--Li Na and Daniela Hantuchova--have survived to play in the third round.

And then there is 2005 U.S. Open champion Kim Clijsters, whose next opponent is her countrywoman, Kirsten Flipkens, who defeated Jelena Dokic and upset Anabel Medina Garrigues. If Venus Williams' knee gets her through the third round, she and Clijsters should meet in the round of 16.

The way things are going, it is probably a good idea to expect more upsets.