Canberra's Nick Kyrgios' return to form has been rewarded with a protected seeding for the US Open.

The world No.18 has been seeded 14th for the final grand slam of the year and it paves the way for a potentially softer draw in the early rounds at Flushing Meadows.

No seed can meet another seed until the third round.

Kyrgios' seeding comes after he arrested a mid-season rankings slide to 23rd after reaching the Cincinnati Masters final this week.

Playing his best tennis of the season, Kyrgios took the scalp of Rafael Nadal in straight sets before going down 6-3 7-5 (7-5) to Grigor Dimitrov in the final.

The result ensured Kyrgios jumped five rankings places and with Stan Wawrinka, Novak Djokovic, Kei Nishikori and world No.11 Milos Raonic missing from the Open draw, the 22-year-old is well placed to make it through to the second week.