Williams' quest for grand slam sweep starts with Russian at US Open
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 Defending men's and women's singles U.S. Open champions Serena Williams of the U.S. (L) and Marin Cilic of Croatia straight grand slam singles title this season with a match against Russian Vitalia Diatchenko in the first round of the US Open, according to Thursday's draw. The world number one is bidding to complete a calendar-year sweep at the majors - a rare feat that Williams would achieve with a win in New York. The last woman to win all four majors in a season was Steffi Graf in 1988. The last man to win a calendar grand slam was Australian Rod Laver in 1969. Williams already owns four singles titles in a row at the majors after winning the Open a year ago. The 33-year-old will find her quarter of the draw filled with eight other compatriots, including Sloane Stephens, who upset her at the Australian open two years ago and dangerous Madison Keys, a potential fourth-round opponent. Also in the crowded quarter: elder sister Venus Williams and Swiss teenaged Toronto champion Belinda Bencic, who surprised Williams with an upset win in the Canadian semi-finals this month. Williams is excited for her next challenge: "I don't care if I win or lose or break even. I'm ready to start it, get it over with, and be done and go on to the next event," she said after winning Cincinnati last weekend over Simona Halep, second seed at the Open. Halep begins her campaign against Marina Erakovic of New Zealand while third seed Maria Sharapova starts with Daria Gavrilova. There is somewhat less drama in the men's field, with Novak Djokovic still leading Roger Federer by a substantial points majority. But the second-seeded Swiss has been making a move at age 34, winning Cincinnati for a record seventh time and closing the gap on his younger rival. The Serbian world number one has lost his last two finals, going down to Andy Murray in Montreal and Federer in a Cincinnati rout which may have left Djokovic nursing some psychological wounds. Japan's Kei Nishikori returns after a leg injury which has bothered him for weeks and forced Asia's top player out of the Cincinnati tournament. Nishikori, the 2014 runner-up, will start against Frenchman Benoit Paire. Nishikori and 2014 champion Marin Cilic could play a re-match of last year's final if they both reach the quarter-finals at this edition. Federer meets Argentina Leonardo Mayer in the first round, and Murray faces a big task against Australian Nick Kyrgios. But the Scot has defeated the explosive Kyrgios at the Australian and French Opens this season. Federer said many of the players are really eager to do well at Flushing Meadows, adding that most usually do. "It's a fair surface, good court. Everybody knows it's your last chance to do well at a slam or win a slam. So there are not really easy matches out there. I just want to make sure I get going good at the very beginning." Rafael Nadal, a two-time champion fighting to raise his ranking from eighth, must first get past Croatian teenaged talent Borna Coric in the first round. Coric's 35th ranking meant he just barely missed being seeded. Coric beat the Spaniard in Basel late last year. Fifth seed Stan Wawrinka makes his start against Spain's Albert Ramos-Vinolas. | |||||
