PROFILES » knock-on effect for their World Cup seeding hopes.T

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic head the direct entry lists for this years U.S. Open.Williams will aim to break the record she currently shares with Steffi Graf for most Grand Slam titles in the Open era, while Djokovic will seek to reach his sixth final in the past seven years at Flushing Meadows.The fields announced by the U.S. Tennis Association on Wednesday include the top 98 members of this weeks ATP rankings, and 101 of the top 103 in the WTA rankings. The two women missing: 2006 U.S. Open champion Maria Sharapova, who is serving a doping ban that she is appealing, and two-time runner-up Victoria Azarenka, who recently announced she is pregnant.Williams has won six of her 22 major singles championships at the U.S. Open, most recently in 2014. Last year, her bid for a calendar-year Grand Slam ended with a semifinal loss in New York against Roberta Vinci. Other past womens champions at Flushing Meadows who are on the direct entry list: Williams sister Venus, Samantha Stosur and Svetlana Kuznetsova.Three women are using a special ranking to get into the field: Peng Shuai, Galina Voskoboeva and Vitalia Diatchenko.There are five past U.S. Open champions in the mens field: Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Marin Cilic.Six men got into the field with a protected ranking: Julien Benneteau, Janko Tipsarevic, Brian Baker, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Dmitry Tursunov and Jerzy Janowicz.Juan Martin del Potro, the 2009 champion, is entered as an alternate, meaning his ranking is too low for direct entry and he would need a wild-card invitation to participate. Because of a series of operations on his left wrist, he hasnt competed at the U.S. Open since 2013.Eight men and eight women will receive wild cards from the USTA, while 16 men and 16 women will get into the field via qualifying rounds in August.The main draw for the years last Grand Slam tournament begins Aug. 29, with the womens singles final on Sept. 10, and the mens on Sept. 11. Air Max 95 Australia . The Vancouver coach and an announced sellout crowd of 18,910 watched in dismay as the Canucks lost 7-4 to the New York Islanders on Monday night by squandering a 3-0 lead in the third period. Wholesale Air Max 95 Australia . Barcelona also left injured defenders Carles Puyol, Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba out of its squad for the trip to Glasgow. That means that Marc Bartra will probably start again in the centre of the defence alongside Gerard Pique. http://www.wholesaleairmax95australia.com/ . Speaking Thursday on TSN 1050 Thursday, the Leafs GM also touched on the questions surrounding the teams leadership and the struggles of his big-name free-agent signing. “Its not from lack of effort from the coaching staff. Cheap Air Max 95 For Sale . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. Cheap Air Max 95 Free Shipping . Goals from Jerome Boateng, Franck Ribery and Thomas Mueller extended Bayerns unbeaten run to a record 37 matches. "This record is incredible," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said.Scotland defence coach Matt Taylor says incoming boss Gregor Townsend should follow the blueprint of predecessor Vern Cotter. Glasgow coach Townsend takes over from the Kiwi next summer after the SRU confirmed Cotters contract would not be renewed at the conclusion of the 2017 Six Nations.Taylor works closely with both men - assisting Townsend at Glasgow while also helping Cotter prepare the Dark Blues - and believes the latter has put Scotland on the path to success Im lucky enough that Im in the Scotland set-up under Vern but also work with Gregor at Glasgow, said Australian-born Taylor who will remain Townsends No 2 with the national side.There hasnt been a formal plan drawn up [to ensure a smooth transition] but I know Gregor is on the phone to Vern a lot and they talk about different things. Vern Cotter will bow out at the end of the 2017 Six Nations I report back to Gregor too and tell him what were doing here in the Scotland camp and how were doing it. He recently said to me to make a note of anything that works well so we can continue with it going forward.Gregor is very detailed in his coaching so he is very conscious of things that work well and things that can be improved on. I would imagine he is only thinking about making small adaptations rather than wholesale changes.He will want to put his own spin on things as all new coaches do but hed be crazy to change everything, because were doing reasonably well. So there will be things that change, but also things that stay the same. Matt Taylor will join Townsend in the Scotland set-up next year Townsend could be left with a nasty hangover of the Cotter era, however, should Scotland lose out to Argentina on Saturday.ddddddddddddScotland - ranked ninth in the world, one place behind the Pumas - can overtake them with a win at Murrayfield. Defeat, however, could have a knock-on effect for their World Cup seeding hopes.The draw for Japan 2019 takes place next May and governing body World Rugby will use the rankings to calculate the seeding for the pool stage. Six months half price Upgrade to Sky Sports to watch Man Utd v Arsenal on Saturday and get the first six months half price If Scotland end up outside the top eight, they face the daunting prospect of having to overcome two major nations to make the quarter-finals.But Taylor said: We have talked about winning and the processes we need to win, but we havent said we need to win because of our ranking. We know in the back of our minds its important but so is winning every Test match.Youre right to say this game has more importance in that sense but does that add pressure by saying that to the players? Were not preparing any less but of course we understand it. Were just looking to win first and foremost. Upgrade to Sky Sports now to watch Man Utd v Arsenal this Saturday and get the first six months half price! Also See: Rugby on Sky Follow @SkySportsRugby Pundits Fixtures and results ' ' '