NEW YORK -- Two-time defending champion Serena Williams will face American teen Taylor Townsend in the first round of the U.S. Open.
The 18-year-old Townsend is a former top-ranked junior player who reached the third round at the French Open this year. She got into her first U.S. Open main draw with a wild card.
Williams could potentially play Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in the semifinals after the draw was held Thursday. Second-seeded Simona Halep and fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska are in the other half. Halep could meet five-time major champ Maria Sharapova in the quarter-finals.
Seventh seed Eugenie Bouchard of Westmount, Que., opens against Olga Govortsova of Belarus. Bouchard, who has advanced to at least the semifinals of the other three Grand Slams this year but has struggled so far on hardcourt, could meet Kvitova in the quarter-finals.
Aleksandra Wozniak of Blainville, Que., opens against Japan's Nara Kurumi, while Toronto's Sharon Fichman faces Radwanska.
Wimbledon champ Novak Djokovic and Australian Open champ Stan Wawrinka could meet in one semifinal on the men's side. Second-seeded Roger Federer and fourth-seeded David Ferrer are in the other half. Djokovic could face Andy Murray in the quarter-finals.
Fifth seed Milos Raonic of Thornhill, Ont., will face a qualifier in the first round and could face Wawrinka in the quarter-finals.
Vancouver's Vasek Pospisil faces Italy's Simone Bolelli and Frank Dancevic of Niagara Falls, Ont., meets No. 32 Joao Sousa of Portugal.
