ESPN.com - TENNIS - Venus-Serena final possible at U.S. Open

 
Wednesday, August 22
Venus-Serena final possible at U.S. Open



NEW YORK -- The Williams sisters, hoping to win the family's third consecutive U.S. Open title, face a potential prime-time showdown in the Sept. 8 final.

No. 10-seeded Serena Williams, the 1999 champion, was assigned to the toughest quarter of the draw Wednesday. It also includes 1998 champ Lindsay Davenport, seeded third, and this year's Wimbledon runner-up, Justine Henin.

No. 4 Venus Williams, who won the U.S. Open last year, finds herself with an easier path. She opens against a qualifier when the year's final Grand Slam event begins next week.

The women's final will be played in prime time for the first time.

No. 2 Jennifer Capriati, who won the first two Grand Slam titles of her career at the Australian and French Opens this year, could meet Venus Williams in the semifinals. Top-seeded Martina Hingis is in the other half of the draw.

The men's draw includes three former champions in the same quarter -- No. 10 Pete Sampras, No. 2 Andre Agassi and No. 6 Patrick Rafter. Also in that quarter is No. 13 Roger Federer, who upset Sampras at Wimbledon this year.

The survivor of that quarter could face defending champion Marat Safin, seeded third, in the semifinals.

A first-time U.S. Open finalist is likely to emerge from the other half of the draw. Contenders include top-seeded Gustavo Kuerten, No. 7 Yevgeny Kafelnikov and emerging American star Andy Roddick, who is seeded in a Grand Slam tournament for the first time at No. 18.

The tournament doubled the number of seeded players this year to 32 men and 32 women, meaning fewer early marquee matchups. For example, Venus Williams, Agassi and Safin open against qualifiers.

Sampras, struggling through his worst year since winning the first of his four U.S. Open titles in 1990, faces a dangerous opening opponent in Julien Boutter. The left-handed Frenchman has a big serve that could give Sampras trouble.

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