Former world number one and six-time US Open champion Serena Williams will lock horns against Maria Sharapova in the first round of the US Open at Flushing Meadows. Williams, 37, and Sharapova, 32, who have met in the finals of the other three Grand Slam events, have never played each other at the United States Open.
Williams has not lost to Sharapova since the 2004 WTA Finals, reeling off 18 consecutive victories against the Russian.
All but three wins during that stretch have come in straight sets.
Sharapova has missed most of the season with injuries and is ranked 87th, which made such a star-studded first-round match possible.
Meanwhile, defending men’s champion Novak Djokovic has been drawn in the same half as third-ranked Roger Federer.
In the most recent major, Djokovic saved two championship points to edge Federer in Wimbledon’s first men’s match decided by a final set tiebreaker.
The two are 3-3 in their US Open meetings, with Djokovic winning the past three, including the 2015 championship match.
