US Open women's draw announced: Serena could play Sharapova in SF and Azarenka in final

The draws were announced today for the 2015 US Open, and the biggest question on everyone’s lips was who would be thrown in the path of Serena Williams as she seeks to complete a calendar Grand Slam. Here’s a break-down of the women’s draw:

First-round matches

Serena Williams, who is also the reigning champion at the tournament, will play 86th-ranked Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia in the first round; this will be the first meeting between the pair. She is in the same half as Maria Sharapova, which would mean the two will likely face off in the semifinal.

Second seed Simona Halep will play New Zealand’s Marina Erakovic in their first round match. Although the two have never faced off in singles, they previously played a women’s doubles match at the Moorilla International Doubles event in Hobart, New Zealand. Erakovic and doubles partner Kai-Chen Chang won that match 6-2, 6-4.

Third seed Sharapova will play Daria Gavrilova in round 1. The two previously met at the semifinals of the 2015 Rome Masters, which Sharapova won 7-5, 6-3. They also played at the Miami Masters this year, a hard surface like the US Open, with Gavrilova taking victory 7-6(4) 6-3.

Serena Williams’ quarter is a difficult one at the US Open – among others in that quarter include sister Venus, Agnieszka Radwanska, Belinda Bencic, Madison Keys, Sloane Stephens and Karolina Pliskova.

Halep’s quarter includes Lucie Safarova, Victoria Azarenka and Angelique Kerber. Azarenka is widely considered the only woman who can seriously challenge Serena, and the two could meet in the final if they win their first six matches.

Sharapova is on course to face Ana Ivanovic in the quarterfinals, if she gets by compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova in Round 3.

Serena, meanwhile, is likely to face compatriot Sloane Stephens in round 3, with Swiss Belinda Bencic due to play Venus in the same round. As the sisters are in the same quarter, there is no chance of a Williams-Williams final.

Likely women’s quarterfinals:

Serena Williams vs Karolina Pliskova/Belinda Bencic

Maria Sharapova vs Ana Ivanovic

Petra Kvitova vs Caroline Wozniacki

Simona Halep vs Lucie Safarova/Victoria Azarenka

Likely semifinals:

Serena vs Sharapova

Kvitova vs Halep/Azarenka

For information about the men’s draw, click here.