NEW YORK, Aug 24: At a tournament dominated by American women over the past few seasons, it’s all down to Jennifer Capriati and possibly the injured Lindsay Davenport to keep the home flag flying when the 17.07-million-dollar U.S. Open begins Monday.

For the first time since 1998, there won’t be a Williams sister in the field, with the both siblings out with injuries.

Serena, who beat her sister in the final last year, underwent knee surgery on August 1 and could conceivably miss the rest of the year.

Venus pulled out this week, after training in New York and realising that the abdominal strain which she has carried since the spring would not let her compete.

The sister-act last played at the Wimbledon final, when Serena beat Venus again.

Instead of the Williams sisters dominating the top of the seedings, it will be Belgium’s fast-emerging battlers, top seed Kim Clijsters and number 2 French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne taking on the role as targets.—dpa