U.S. Open 2012 injury report

The U.S. Open will begin Monday without some high-profile names, most notably 2010 champion Rafael Nadal, who withdrew as he continues to rehab a knee injury

The U.S. Open will begin Monday without some high-profile names, most notably 2010 champion Rafael Nadal, who withdrew as he continues to rehab a knee injury that has kept him off the tour since July. While Nadal's absence has left a gaping hole in the men's draw, the women's draw is arguably even more injury-riddled, with five of the top 10 seeds suffering from recent injuries or illnesses or fatigue that leave significant questions about their current form.

Here's a roundup of some of the major players limping into New York to battle for the last Slam of the year.

• Maria Sharapova (No. 3 seed): Withdrew from Montreal and Cincinnati with a viral illness her team says she contracted at the Olympics. Has not played a match since losing the Olympic final to Serena Williams.

• Agnieszka Radwanska (No. 2 seed): Retired with a right shoulder injury in her first match at New Haven. Says she has struggled with the injury since this time last year, but it's flared up now that she's back on hard courts.

• Angelique Kerber (No. 6 seed): After making the final of Cincinnati and beating Williams and Petra Kvitova to get there, the winningest player on the WTA Tour withdrew from the Texas Tennis Open in Dallas with a left shoulder injury. It's likely the pull-out was preventative given her heavy match-play this year, but it's still worth keeping an eye on.

• Juan Martin del Potro (No. 7 seed): Complained of pain in his left wrist in Cincinnati but has been cleared to play by his doctor at the Mayo Clinic. The injury reportedly affects Del Potro's powerful backhand, particularly when he has to hit it from a high point.

• Caroline Wozniacki (No. 8 seed): The Dane was bothered by her knees in Montreal but continued to play through it in Cincinnati. The ex-No. 1 retired in the New Haven semifinal after losing the first set to Maria Kirilenko.

• Ana Ivanovic (No. 12 seed): She pulled out of Cincinnati after an MRI found a tear in her right foot.

• Sabine Lisicki (No. 16 seed): Withdrew from the Texas Tennis Open with an abdominal injury.

• Andy Roddick (No. 20 seed): After a solid summer of injury-free tennis, Roddick withdrew from Toronto citing an illness and had to call the trainer during his first-round loss to Jeremy Chardy in Cincinnati for back spasms.

• Christina McHale (No. 21 seed): Retired from Cincinnati and withdrew from New Haven due to a gastrointestinal illness.

Venus Williams