Djokovic handed Schwartzman test

Number one seed Novak Djokovic will take on Diego Schwartzman in the US Open first round next week.<br /> <a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/8/21/607483header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Djokovic handed Schwartzman test" border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/8/21/607483header.jpg" title="Djokovic handed Schwartzman test" /></a><br /> Djokovic lost out to Rafael Nadal in the final at Flushing Meadows in 2013, going down in four sets to the Spaniard.<br /> <br /> Nadal has been forced out of this year's tournament with a wrist injury, and world number one Djokovic will come up against Schwartzman - 79 places below him in the rankings - in his opening contest.<br /> <br /> Should the Serbian progress through the opening four rounds, a mouth-watering last-eight clash awaits, with the likes of Andy Murray, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and home favourite John Isner all in Djokovic's quarter of the draw.<br /> <br /> Second seed Roger Federer, who won the tournament five times in succession between 2004 and 2008, begins his campaign against Marinko Matosevic, with the Swiss in line for a possible quarter-final against Grigor Dimitrov.<br /> <br /> The Bulgarian is widely tipped to lead the new generation of talent in the game and the 23-year-old begins his search for a first major title in a tie with American Ryan Harrison.<br /> <br /> Stanislas Wawrinka, who saw off Nadal in the Australian Open final earlier this year, opens against Jiri Vesely, with fifth seed Milos Raonic also pitted in Wawrinka's quarter.<br /> <br /> One notable first-round match sees world number seven Tomas Berdych face 2001 champion Lleyton Hewitt, while David Ferrer - seeded fourth - has been drawn against Damir Dzumhur, the world number 120 from Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Diego Schwartzman Novak Djokovic Rafael Nadal tennis US Open Djokovic handed Schwartzman test

Number one seed Novak Djokovic will take on Diego Schwartzman in the US Open first round next week. Djokovic lost out to Rafael Nadal in the final at Flushing Meadows in 2013, going down in four sets to the Spaniard. Nadal has been forced out of this…

Read more »

Nadal out of US Open

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/8/18/603729header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/8/18/603729header.jpg" /></a></div> Defending US Open champion Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the final grand slam of the tennis year with a wrist injury.<br /> <br /> The world number two's participation at Flushing Meadows was always in doubt after he pulled out of ATP 1000 events at the Rogers Cup and Cincinnati Masters last month.<br /> <br /> He had initially hoped to be fit for the US Open but announced on Monday that he had lost his race against time.<br /> <br /> Nadal – winner of 14 grand slam titles – beat current world number one, Novak Djokovic, in four sets at last year's final in New York.<br /> <br /> The Spaniard posted on his official Facebook page: "I am very sorry to announce I won't be able to play at this year's US Open, a tournament on which I've played three consecutive finals in my last participations.<br /> <br /> "I am sure you understand that it is a very tough moment for me since it is a tournament I love and where I have great memories from fans, the night matches, so many things.<br /> <br /> "[There is] not much more I can do right now, other than accept the situation and, as always in my case, work hard in order to be able to compete at the highest level once I am back."<br /> <br /> Nadal also beat Djokovic in four sets to win the 2010 US Open final.<br /> <br /> The 28-year-old's withdrawal will mean he ends the year with just one grand slam title – achieved in Paris at the French Open, a tournament he has won nine times.

championship news sports Rafael Nadal SPORTS US Open Nadal out of US Open

Defending US Open champion Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the final grand slam of the tennis year with a wrist injury. The world number two's participation at Flushing Meadows was always in doubt after he pulled out of ATP 1000 events at the Rogers…

Read more »