The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Easy opening round for Roger Federer

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Easy opening round for Roger Federer

NEW YORK: Roger Federer's path to a seventh consecutive US Open final could be barred by Robin Soderling and Novak Djokovic while top seed Rafael Nadal's career Grand Slam bid might be blocked by Andy Murray.

Thursday's draw announcement for the US Open set the stage for the Flushing Meadows fortnight that begins on Monday.

Federer opens against Argentina's Brian Dabul with a German, Michael Berrer or Andreas Beck, awaiting the winner in round two.

Elusive title

Nadal, the reigning Wimbledon and French Open champion, will become just the seventh man to have won at least once in all four Grand Slam events if he finally captures the title at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

He opens against Russia's Teymuraz Gabashvili with either Argentina's Maximo Gonzalez or Uzbek Denis Istomin waiting in the second round.

Eight-time Slam champion Nadal, a US Open semifinal loser the past two years, could face eighth-seeded compatriot Fernando Verdasco in the quarterfinals.

British fourth seed Murray, seeking his first Grand Slam title, might face Czech seventh seed Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals and Nadal in a semifinal, if form holds.

Murray opens against Slovakia's Lukas Lacko, with either Jamaican Dustin Brown or Spain's Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo awaiting the winner.

Djokovic, who opens against compatriot Viktor Troicki, could face Russian sixth seed Nikolay Davydenko in the quarterfinals.

Somdev to meet Anderson

Somdev Devvarman has drawn in-form South African Davis Cupper Kevin Anderson as his first-round opponent in the men's singles event.

Both Somdev and Anderson, who is ranked 22 places better than the Indian at 77, are in good touch.

Anderson had beaten world number 21 American Sam Querry at the Toronto Masters early this month where he lost to Rafael Nadal in the pre-quarterfinals.

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