The world tennis number one and top seed Novak Djokovic has been handed a danger-filled path to the final of the US Open and a possible showdown with number two Roger Federer, after the draw for the season's final grand slam.
Djokovic, who has advanced to the finals each of the last four years, hoisting the title in 2011, plays his first-round match against unseeded Argentine Diego Schwartzman but the Serb must navigate an increasingly trickier path.
Djokovic figures to meet either 2012 champion Andy Murray or the on-form Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter-finals.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga during his defeat of Novak Djokovic at the Toronto Masters, 2014. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Federer, winner of five consecutive US Open titles from 2004, opens against Australian Marinko Matosevic.
The second-seeded Swiss, aiming to add to his record haul of 17 majors at the advanced age of 33, figures to have a fairly easy ride to a quarter-finals clash against seventh seed Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, nicknamed "Baby Fed" for his versatile game.
Roger Federer at the 2014 Cincinnati Open. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
On the women's side, two-time defending champion and top seed Serena Williams also looks to have drawn a stern test with former US champion Sam Stosur of Australia a possible fourth-round opponent and eighth seed Ana Ivanovic projected for the quarters.
World women's tennis number one Serena Williams. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Second seed Simona Halep of Romania opens against American wild card Danielle Rose Collins with a possible clash against Venus Williams in the fourth round.
The other projected fourth-round match in Halep's quarter would have French Open champion Maria Sharapova against former number one Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark.
New Zealand's Marina Erakovic has drawn 20th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia in the first round of singles in New York.
