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Serena Williams[/caption]
New York, July 18 (IANS): Defending champion Naomi Osaka, who defeated Serena Williams in the 2018 final, and world no. 1 Ashleigh Barty are among the 13 Grand Slam champions who will compete at this year's US Open, which is beginning on August 26.
Naomi had defeated Serena 6-2, 6-4 in New York to win her first major in September 2018. However, it was overshadowed by controversy, with the American tennis star clashing with chair umpire Carlos Ramos, culminating when he docked her a game for calling him a "thief".
Osaka and Williams are joined on the list by 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens, two-time US Open champion Venus Williams, 2016 US Open champion Angelique Kerber and 2006 champion Maria Sharapova, announced the United States Tennis Association (USTA) on Wednesday.
Rounding out the Top-10 entries are Karolina Pliskova, Simona Halep, Kiki Bertens, Petra Kvitova, Elina Svitolina and Aryna Sabalenka.
Additional Grand Slam singles champions featured in this year's field include Victoria Azarenka, Garbine Muguruza, Caroline Wozniacki and Jelena Ostapenko.
The world's top 102 women will receive a direct entry into the US Open, representing 34 countries.
Sixteen more players will gain entry through the US Open Qualifying Tournament, which is the centrepiece of US Open Fan Week (August 19-24), while the remaining eight spots will be wildcards awarded by the USTA.
The US has 15 women who qualified for direct entry into the US Open's main draw the most of any country.
