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August 29, 2009

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Home » Sports » Tennis

Federer, Serena start against wildcards

WORLD No. 1 Roger Federer will begin his bid to win a record sixth consecutive US Open against American wildcard Devin Britton after the draw was made in New York on Thursday.

The Swiss, who won the French Open and Wimbledon titles this year to set a record of 15 grand slam singles victories, is scheduled to play fourth seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the semifinals.

If Federer wins the title he will match Bill Tilden's six straight victories at the US tennis championships during the 1920s before the event was open to professionals.

Women's champion Serena Williams begins her campaign against American wildcard Alexa Glatch.

"I am still playing very well," Federer said at the draw. "I played great in Cincinnati (where he won the Masters Series event last weekend) and I hope things can go well at the US Open."

Second seed Andy Murray, runner-up last year and chasing his first grand slam crown, could face third seed Rafael Nadal in the semifinals.

Scot Murray will begin against Latvian Ernests Gulbis while Spaniard Nadal, who missed Wimbledon because of tendinitis in his knees, takes on Frenchman Richard Gasquet.

Fourth seed Djokovic will play Croatian Ivan Ljubicic and former champion Andy Roddick, the leading American seed at No. 5, takes on Bjorn Phau of Germany.

Djokovic and Roddick are seeded to face each other in the quarterfinals.

In the women's event, Williams is seeded second behind world No. 1 Dinara Safina and could face her sister Venus, the third seed, in the semifinals.

Russian Safina, still chasing her first grand slam title, plays Australian wildcard Olivia Rogowska in the opening round while Venus takes on another Russian Vera Dushevina.

Former champion Maria Sharapova of Russia, seeded 29, starts against Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova and could face fourth seed Elena Dementieva in round three.

The US Open begins on Monday



 

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