Roger Federer has been drawn in the top half of the US Open draw, setting up a potential semi-final showdown with top seed Novak Djokovic. The Swiss will play a qualifier in the first round and could meet 15th seed David Goffin in the fourth round. He is seeded to meet former finalist Kei Nishikori in the quarter-finals.
Djokovic will play Roberto Carballes Baena in the first round and could play former champion Stan Wawrinka or Kevin Anderson in the fourth round.
Nadal opens his campaign against Australian John Millman, who last year stunned Roger Federer in the fourth round. Nadal could meet fellow Spanish lefty Fernando Verdasco in the third round and John Isner or former champion Marin Cilic in the fourth round.
For the second straight year, Canadians Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov will meet in the first round. Eighth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas opens against Russian Andrey Rublev, who upset Roger Federer last week in Cincinnati.
Federer won five consecutive US Opens from 2004-08 and built a 40-match winning streak at the event before his surprise defeat to Juan Martin del Potro in the 2009 final at Flush Meadows.
Djokovic is the defending champion and also won the US Open in 2011 and '15. Nadal is also a three-time US Open champion, taking the title in 2010, '13 and '17.
Speaking after his late-morning practice session with Dominic Thiem Federer told ESPN that he would be otherwise occupied when the draw is made. "I don't watch the draws, I don't like it," Federer said. "I'd rather just get through it and see where I fall. Players getting through to the quarters or the semis, that's really for you guys to debate. My focus really lies in the first couple of rounds."
Not the worst draw he's ever had here that's for sure. If he gets past the first few rounds he could play his way into it. Despite only having played 2 matches on hard courts thus far.
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