Murray, Djokovic could meet in semis

Nadal, Federer in same half of draw

US Open champion Andy Murray faces the mouthwatering prospect of meeting top seed Novak Djokovic in this year's semifinals after the draw for the season's final Grand Slam was announced on Thursday.

Murray, who is also the Wimbledon champion, landed in the top half of the draw for the Aug 26-Sept 9 tournament in New York while second seed Rafael Nadal and five-times US Open champion Roger Federer were placed in the bottom half.

 Scotsman Murray, who beat Serb Djokovic in an epic five-set final to claim last year's title at Flushing Meadows, was elated to be back at a venue where he has enjoyed considerable success.

"This is a huge tournament for me," Murray, 26, said after the official draw ceremony was completed at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

"I came here for the first time when I was 15. I got to my first Grand Slam final here, my first Grand Slam win here and I won the juniors here when I was 17 so I love coming back."

Murray will take on Frenchman Michael Llodra in the opening round while Djokovic launches his title bid against Lithuania's Ricardas Berankis.

Seventh seed Federer has been placed outside the top three for the first time in more than a decade at a Slam and is drawn to meet in-form Nadal in the quarterfinals.

However, the Spaniard could face a tricky opponent in the previous round where he is scheduled to meet big-serving American John Isner, who Nadal beat in the final of the Western and Southern Open last week.

In the women's singles draw, world number one and defending champion Serena Williams is set to come up against Germany's Angelique Kerber in the last eight but she has two other intriguing opponents potentially lying in wait.

Top seed Williams is scheduled to face fellow American Sloane Stephens in the fourth round, the player who stunningly beat her in this year's Australian Open quarterfinals.
Second seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, who beat Serena in Sunday's Cincinnati Open final, has been drawn to meet seventh seed Czech Petra Kvitova in the last eight.

The other potential quarterfinals could see third seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland against fifth seed Li Na of China while fourth-seeded Italian Sara Errani is scheduled to play sixth seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark.

In the opening round, Serena faces an experienced opponent in Italian Francesca Schiavone, the 2010 French Open champion, while Azarenka comes up against Germany's Dinah Pfizenmaier.