US Open 2020 draw: Who will Djokovic, Murray, Pliskova, Serena & Co face
The top seeds have discovered their fate for the first round of the US Open.
Novak Djokovic, Cincinnati 2020
Top seed Novak Djokovic will open his US Open campaign against Damir Dzumhur. The Bosnian is currently ranked world No 105, and has never made it past the third round in Flushing Meadows.
Another former New York champion begins against Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka – wildcard Andy Murray of Great Britain. The three-time Grand Slam winner showed glimpses of his old form during the Western and Southern Open as he continues his comeback following hip replacement surgery.
Austria’s Dominic Thiem is seeded second, and will play Jaume Munar of Spain.
Last season’s runner-up Daniil Medvedev has been drawn against Federico Delbonis of Argentina, while fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece takes on Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
Notable R1 #USOpen men’s matches at first glance:
Anderson-Zverev
Opelka-Goffin
Dimitrov-Paul
Bautista Agut-Sandgren
Sinner-Khachanov
Murray-Nishioka— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) August 27, 2020
Osaka versus a compatriot
On the women’s side, Karolina Pliskova is seeded first in the absence of world No 1 Ashleigh Barty and world No 2 Simona Halep.
The Czech begins her tournament against Anhelina Kalinina of Ukraine, ranked No 145 in the world.
Second seed Sofia Kenin, this year’s Australian Open champion, opens up against Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium, while Coco Gauff, aged 16, will face 31st seed Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia.
Two-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has a compatriot in her first-round draw – Misaki Doi, currently the world No 78.
And Serena Williams, chasing her 24th major title, finds herself in a similar situation as she will play another American, Kristie Ahn.
Potential path for Serena Williams to No. 24
R1 Kristie Ahn
R2 Gasparyan/Puig
R3 Sloane Stephens who is slumping
R4 Sakkari/Anisimova
QF Muguruza/Keys
SF Kenin/Mertens
F Karolina Pliskova/Naomi Osaka/Petra Kvitova pic.twitter.com/LMWzeY3htP— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) August 27, 2020
No Nadal and Federer, Barty and Andreescu
It will be a depleted field in New York over the next fortnight as many players – including Barty and Halep as well as men’s defending champion Nadal – have opted not to travel to the US, primarily because of the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing health and safety concerns.
There are also some absences due to fitness, including women’s defending champion Bianca Andreescu, who has suffered with injury this year, and men’s world No 4 Roger Federer, who has recently undergone knee surgery.
- Read more: Osaka confirms she will play Cincinnati semi-finals
- Read more: Nishikori withdraws from US Open
