Sharapova up for Serena in opener

FEDERER FALLS INTO DJOKOVIC HALF OF DRAW

New York, Aug. 23: Serena Williams will begin her quest for a seventh US Open title and record-tying 24th Grand Slam victory against long-time rival Maria Sharapova in the US Open women’s singles draw made on Thursday.

Serena has dominated the Russian star in their headto-head rivalry, winning 19 times with only two defeats, including their past 18 meetings, most recently at the 2016 Australian Open quarterfinals, although Sharapova advanced by walkover against Serena in the fourth round at Roland Garros last year.

Eighth-ranked Serena is looking to match the alltime record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles won by Margaret Court when the year’s final major championship gets underway on Monday.

The 37-year-old American has dropped her past three Grand Slam finals appearances, including last month to Simona Halep at Wimbledon and last year to Japan’s Naomi Osaka at the US Open after a controversial game penalty for her tirade at umpire Carlos Ramos.

Tournament officials have said Ramos will not work any matches involving Serena or Venus Williams, who could not face her sister until the semifinals, being in the same draw quarter as Czech third seed Karolina Pliskova.

Serena was placed into the same quarter as Australian second seed Ashleigh Barty. — AFP New York, Aug. 23: Topranked defending champion Novak Djokovic could face Roger Federer in the semifinals and Rafael Nadal in the final under the US Open draw unveiled on Thursday at Flushing Meadows.

Djokovic, who defeated Federer last month in an epic Wimbledon final for his 16th Grand Slam crown, had the 20-time Grand Slam champion and third seed dropped into his half of the draw.

Second seed Nadal, who won his 18th Grand Slam title at this year’s French Open at Roland Garros, has Austrian fourth seed Dominic Thiem on his side of the bracket.

Djokovic will play his first round match against 76th-ranked Spanish player Roberto Carballes Baena.

Federer will open against a qualifier as will Japan’s seventh-seeded Kei Nishikori, also in his quarter of the men’s singles draw.

Nadal’s first US Open match will be against Australia’s 61st-ranked John Millman, who shocked Federer at the tournament in 2018, while fourth-seeded Thiem’s opener will be against the gritty Thomas Fabbiano of Italy.