New York (AFP)
The world No.1 Novak Djokovic will be opposed, for his entry into the running at the US Open (August 31-September 13) of which he is the big favorite, to the Bosnian Damir Dzumhur, according to the table made public Thursday by the organizers.
Djokovic, a three-time winner of the New York tournament, inherited a potentially tricky first round against the 107th player in the world, even if he always clearly beat the Bosnian in two confrontations.
Djokovic is in the same part of the table as the American John Isner (N.21), which could cause him problems with his powerful serve.
The Serbian, still undefeated in 2020, is a big favorite of the US Open, in the absence of the defending champion, the Spaniard Rafael Nadal who bypassed the meeting at Flushing Meadows due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"Djoko's" other big rival, Switzerland's Roger Federer, will also be out as he cut his season short after having knee surgery in June.
The US Open 2020 takes place in a health "bubble" to avoid contamination with the coronavirus. As such, there was no ceremony or transmission of the draw for the male and female paintings, as in normal times, which were unveiled by the organizers on their website.
Among the other matches of the 1st round, to follow the duel between the German Alexander Zverev (No. 7 worldwide) and the South African Kevin Anderson (No. 124 but former 5th worldwide) or between the Scotsman Andy Murray, from return to the circuit after a long absence (N.134) and winner of the event in 2012, and the Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka (N.48).
In the women's table, in the absence of world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty, runner-up Simona Halep or 2019 winner Bianca Andreescu (No. 6), Serena Williams has a great opportunity to win a 24th Grand title Slam, his first since the 2017 Australian Open, which would allow him to equal the record of Australian Margaret Smith Court.
She will be opposed in the first round to her compatriot Kristie Ahn (97th).
© 2020 AFP