NEW YORK: Serena Williams could face Maria Sharapova in her second straight major semi-final as she seeks to complete the Grand Slam at the US Open.

The U.S. Tennis Association held the draw at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday.

In the third round, Serena could face young American Sloane Stephens, who beat her in the 2013 Australian Open. Another up-and-coming U.S. player, Madison Keys, could await in the fourth round.

A potential quarterfinal opponent is 12th-seeded teen Belinda Bencic, who recently upset Serena in Toronto. Sister Venus is another possible quarter-final foe.

Serena is seeking to complete the first Grand Slam since Steffi Graf in 1988.

On the men’s side, Roger Federer and Andy Murray could meet in one semi-final and Novak Djokovic and Kei Nishikori in the other.

World number one Djokovic could meet eighth-seed Rafael Nadal in the US Open quarter-finals while Murray and Stan Wawrinka meet in another quarter-final.

Federer could meet Czech Tomas Berdych in the quarter-finals and might meet John Isner in the round of 16.

Former champion Murray was drawn to face controversial Australian Nick Kyrgios in the first round.

Kyrgios, 20, was handed a suspended ban and fine this week for his lurid verbal attack on Wawrinka at the Montreal Masters.

World number 37 Kyrgios triggered widespread revulsion for his on-court taunt that fellow Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis had had a fling with WTA professional Donna Vekic, reportedly the girlfriend of Wawrinka.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2015

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