Two questions dominated the agenda ahead of the US Open draw.
Would Novak Djokovic be allowed to enter the country to compete in the season’s final grand slam? And who would Serena Williams face in what is likely to be the last tournament of her storied career?
The answer to the first question came about an hour before the draw was made, as Djokovic confirmed on social media that he would miss the tournament due to his vaccine status.
“Sadly, I will not be able to travel to NY this time for US Open,” wrote Djokovic, who has not been inoculated against Covid-19 and is therefore unable to enter the country under current regulations. “Thank you #NoleFam for your messages of love and support. Good luck to my fellow players! I’ll keep in good shape and positive spirit and wait for an opportunity to compete again. See you soon tennis world!”
The answer to the second came when the draw was revealed at noon local time, pitting Williams, who earlier this month announced her impending retirement, against Danka Kovinic of Montenegro in the opening round. At the age of 27, the 80th-ranked Kovinic has enjoyed the finest grand slam runs of her career this season, defeating Emma Raducanu en route to the third round of the Australian Open and reaching the same stage at Roland Garros, where she gave a good account of herself against Iga Swiatek, the world No 1.
Williams, whose haul of 23 majors includes six US Open titles, has claimed just one victory from four matches since returning from a year-long absence at Wimbledon. The American has never previously faced Kovinic, a gifted shot-maker whose powerful serve has undone the likes of Belinda Bencic and Karolina Pliskova in the past, but should she advance she is likely to face Anett Kontaveit, the Estonian second seed, in round two.
Elsewhere in Williams’s quarter, Ons Jabeur, the Wimbledon finalist and fifth seed, plays home favourite Madison Brengle, while last year’s finalist Leylah Fernandez, seeded 14th, begins against Oceane Dodin of France.
Emma Raducanu, the 11th seed and defending champion, has been handed a tough opening assignment against Alizé Cornet. The Frenchwoman reached the last eight at the Australian Open in January and ended Swiatek’s 37-match unbeaten streak at Wimbledon.
Should she advance, Raducanu could face the winner of a blockbuster opening round match between former champion Naomi Osaka and Danielle Collins, the 19th seed and Australian Open finalist, with either Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina or Aryna Sabalenka, a semi-finalist last year, potentially awaiting in the last 16.
Swiatek will open against Italy’s Jasmine Paolini. The Polish top seed, who has yet to make it past the fourth round in New York, is projected to face the in-form American Jessica Pegula in the last eight. If the seedings hold, Swiatek will play Spanish fourth seed Paula Badosa in the semi-finals.
In the men’s draw, top seed Daniil Medvedev will open his title defence against Stefan Kozlov, an American of Russian descent making his first main draw appearance in New York and ranked 110th. Medvedev’s path to a possible repeat of his epic 2019 final against second seed Rafael Nadal, who will play Australian wild card Rinky Hijikata in the first round, is fraught with hazard.
Assuming he survives a projected third-round meeting with Nikoloz Basilashvili, the powerful Georgian 31st seed, Medvedev could face Nick Kyrgios, the Wimbledon finalist who won the Citi Open in Washington earlier this month, in round four. Kyrgios, who defeated the Russian world No 1 a fortnight ago in Montreal, must negotiate a tricky opener against his fellow Australian and close friend Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Medvedev is seeded to face Felix Auger-Aliassime, the sixth seed, in the quarter-finals, while Nadal can expect to play Britain’s Cameron Norrie ahead of a projected semi-final against fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, the third seed.