US Open 2020 Draw: Djokovic Placed With Zverev, Goffin In Top Half; Theim, Medvedev Headline Bottom Section

World No.1 and top seed Novak Djokovic will open his campaign with a first round encounter against Damir Dzumhur while top seed Karolina Pliskova will lock horns with Anhelina Kalinina in her first essay in the grand slam.

Novak Djokovic

The highly anticipated and eagerly awaited men's and women's singles draws for the 140th edition of the US Open was released by the tournament organizing committee, with top seeds Novak Djokovic and Karolina Pliskova headlining their respective brackets. World No.1 and top seed Novak Djokovic will open his campaign with a first round encounter against Damir Dzumhur while top seed Karolina Pliskova will lock horns with Anhelina Kalinina in her first essay in the grand slam. It won't be a walk in the park for top seed Novak Djokovic as he is placed along with No. 6 seed David Goffin in the first quarter of the top draw.The Serb could also face No. 5 seed Alexander Zverev or No.4 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas as he moves forward in the penultimate rounds of his section in the top half of the draw. While the hard hitting German Alexander Zverev will play his opening match against 2017 US Open finalist Kevin Anderson, No. 4 seed Tsitsipas heading that second quarter of the draw and playing his first match against Albert Ramos-Vinolas of Spain. Dominic Thiem who has been handed the second seeding in the tournament is the key attraction in the fourth quarter of the bottom half. Meanwhile, No. 3 seed Daniil Medvedev shares the third quarter with Matteo Berrettini. On the women's singles draw, top seed Czech star Karolina Pliskova is placed in the top draw with No. 8 seed Petra Martic and 2016 US Open champion Angelique Kerber. In the adjacent quarter, Naomi Osaka will face Misaki Doi in an all-Japanese matchup, and could face Coco Gauff in the third round. The 16-year-old American will play No. 31 seed Anastasija Sevastova in her first round clash. American seeds Serena Williams (No. 3), Madison Keys (No. 7), Amanda Anisimova (No. 22) and Sloane Stephens (No. 26) make up a highly competitive draw in the third quarter, with a potential All-American contest lineup between Williams and Stephens the third-round. 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 without spectators behind closed doors for the very first time amid the COVID-19 pandemic.