Djokovic thumps king of clay Nadal to enter third round
The two greats of the racquet game, both in the evening of their fabulous journey in tennis, have fought many a pitched battle between themselves in their glittering careers.
Men’s singles top-seed player Novak Djokovic is all set to begin his US Open 2020 campaign against Damir Dzumhur as the singles draws of both men’s and women’s were released on Thursday. Top-seed women’s singles player Karolina Pliskova will face Anhelina Kalinina.
Djokovic has been drawn in the first quarter of the men’s competition with sixth-seeded David Goffin and world number seven Alexander Zverev. Stefanos Tstisipas, who will be the fourth seed player in this year’s Grand Slam at the Flushing Meadows, will head the second quarter.
In the bottom half, No. 3 seed Daniil Medvedev shares the third quarter with Matteo Berrettini. The fourth quarter, anchored by No. 2 seed Dominic Thiem, will see wild card Andy Murray take on rising Japanese star Yoshihito Nishioka in the first round.
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On the women’s front, Pliskova will be joined by No. 8 seed Petra Martic and former US Open champion Angelique Kerber in the top quarter. The next line will be headed by Naomi Osaka where she will be joined by young sensation Coco Gauff as well.
American seeds Serena Williams (No. 3), Madison Keys (No. 7), Amanda Anisimova (No. 22) and Sloane Stephens (No. 26) are all in the draw’s third quarter, with Williams and Stephens in line for a potential third-round matchup.
In the draw’s bottom quarter, No. 2 seed Sofia Kenin will play Yanina Wickmayer in her opener, while Venus Williams plays No. 20 seed Karolina Muchova. Wild card Kim Clijsters is also lurking in the bottom quarter as she faces No. 21 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in her first-round match. Belarusians Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka also landed in the last quarter, with a potential second-round meeting ahead.
The Grand Slam will take place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center from August 31 to September 13 behind closed doors amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, several top-ranker players have withdrawn their name citing health concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Defending men’s singles champion Rafael Nadal and five-time champion Roger Federer have also pulled their name out.
Among women, world No.1 Ashleigh Barty, No. 2 Simona Halep, Svetlana Kuznetsova, No. 5 Elina Svitolina and No. 7 Kiki Bertens have joined the list of top players to miss the US Open.
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