Melbourne, 20 July 2012 | tennis.com.au

The direct entrants for the 2012 US Open have been announced in New York.

The list is headed by Australian Open 2012 winner and current world No.1 Victoria Azarenka, world No.2 Agnieszka Radwanska, who is still searching for her first win at a Grand Slam tournament, Roland Garros 2012 title holder Maria Sharapova, Wimbledon 2012 champion Serena Williams and reigning US Open champion and world No.5 Sam Stosur.

Stosur is one of six previous winners of the New York major to make the 2012 main draw.

The Queenslander will be joined in the main draw by countrywoman and world No.97 Jarmila Gajdosova.

With the direct entry ranking cut off at No.102 (based on the July 16 WTA rankings), Casey Dellacqua (107), Olivia Rogowska (119) and Anastasia Rodionova (137) all narrowly missed out.

The three will all be hoping to benefit from Tennis Australia’s reciprocal wildcard arrangement with the US Open. Tennis Australia has one men’s and one women’s main draw wildcard to award to players of their choice.

A number of Australian players will play the US Open qualifying rounds from 21 to 24 August in the hope of securing one of 16 places in the main draw.

The main draw begins on Monday 27 August.