体坛英语新闻：Serena Williams to face compatriot Townsend in U.S. Open opener

NEW YORK, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Defending champion Serena Williams will face compatriot Taylor Townsend in the first round of the women's singles of the U.S. Open after the draw was concluded here on Thursday.

Williams, who is seeking for her third consecutive U.S. Open singles title, showed up at the draw ceromony and said, "As an American, it's always very important to play at the U.S.. I don't know who is there (to stop me). I'll play one by one."

Without injured Rafeil Nadal, Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic might face Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka in one semifinal on the men's side.

Second-seeded Roger Federer and fourth-seeded David Ferrer are in the other half and will not face each other in early stage.

Chinese top player Li Na withdrew from the tournament due to wrist injury. Zhang Shuai is the only seeded Chinese and she could be the first seed to meet Serena if she could go through.

And the other two Chinese players, Peng Shuai and Zheng Jie, set up a first-round meeting and the winner will face Agnieszka Radwanska, the 4th seeded Polish, in the second round. Enditem

The 2014 U.S. Open is scheduled from August 25-September 8.