Rafael Nadal's path to a third straight Grand Slam final could be a relatively smooth journey after he got a favourable draw.

Nadal is the top seed for next week's tourmanet, and will not have to deal with either second seed Roger Federer or third seed Novak Djokovic prior to the final.

The Spaniard, who will open with an undetermined qualifier, is attempting to become the first player since Rod Laver in 1969 to win the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open in the same season.

Nadal, who overtook Federer atop the world rankings Monday, would not have to face a top-10 player until the quarter-finals, where a clash with number seven David Nalbandian or ninth-seeded American James Blake is possible.

Should he reach the semi-finals, Nadal faces the potential of a match against either No. 4 David Ferrer - who upset him in the third round here a year ago - or sixth-seeded Andy Murray, a Scot who has lost all five of his previous encounters with the southpaw.

It has been a breakout year for Nadal, who won gold at the Olympics this month to claim his eighth title of the year. Yet, he will come into Flushing Meadows with something to prove as he has never advanced beyond the quarter-finals in five previous appearances.

Federer is the four-time defending champion of this hardcourt major, but the 12-time Grand Slam champion also comes in with something to prove, having won just two titles this season.

The 27-year-old, who had held the number one ranking for a record 237 weeks before Nadal took over the top spot, will open against Argentina's Maximo Gonzalez.

Federer also looks to have a favorable trek to the semi-finals, as the only other top-10 player in his quarter is fifth seed Nikolay Davydenko, who is 0-12 lifetime against the Swiss standout.

Djokovic, the reigning Australian Open champion, could face Federer in the semis, but he has plenty of work ahead before thinking about that.

The 21-year-old Serb may end up having to deal with number 19 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the fourth round - in what would be a re-match of the Australian Open final.

Should Djokovic forge his way into the quarter-finals, a potential match-up with number eight Andy Roddick or 11th seed Fernando Gonzalez is looming. The American number one, Roddick won this event in 2003 and Gonzalez is playing well of late, having lost to Nadal in the gold medal match at the Olympics.

The US Open begins on Monday.

10:21 AM
Categories: Sports. Author: SacHu