25. 08. 2011. ·
Photo: Reuters
As the world no.1, Novak is top-seeded at the US Open for the first time, followed by the defending champion Rafael Nadal and five-time winner Roger Federer.
Competitions at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows (New York) begin on August 29, and last until September 11.
The main singles draw has been made on Thursday afternoon local time. Nole will open campaign at his seventh US Open against a qualifier Conor Niland from Ireland, world number 199.
If the last year’s finalist (lost to Nadal 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 2-6) successfully passes first step towards the trophy, he will face the winner of the match between Spaniard Pere Riba and Argentine Carlos Berlocq.
The world‘s best player might play against Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) or Ivan Dodig (CRO, 32) in the third round.
Novak’s possible opponents in the later stages of the tournament are:
4th round: Richard Gasquet (FRA, 13), Ivo Karlovic (CRO), Aleksandr Dolgopolov (UKR, 22), Fernando Gonzalez (CHI)
Quarterfinals: Gael Monfils (FRA, 7), Tomas Berdych (CZE, 9), Janko Tipsarevic (SRB, 20)
Semifinals: Roger Federer (SUI, 3), Mardy Fish (USA, 8), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA, 11), Viktor Troicki (SRB, 15)
Rafael Nadal (ESP, 2), Andy Murray (GBR, 4), David Ferrer (ESP, 5)… are in the bottom half of the draw, and Nole can’t meet them before the finals.
Champions in singles competition will each get $1,800,000.
Novak won 26 matches of 32 he played in New York. This season the 24-year old from Belgrade has a 57-2 match record (33-1 on hard).
He also has a fantastic 18-2 record against top 10 players in 2011.
Good luck Nole!
