How the U.S. Open draw shakes out for Canadian stars

She was robbed of an opportunity to show what she can do at her best against arguably the greatest of all time in Serena Williams at the Rogers Cup, but Bianca Andreescu may well have a chance to go up against her idol Simona Halep at the U.S. Open.

The draw for the final Grand Slam of 2019 was released at noon Thursday and the 19-year-old Canadian who has taken the tennis world by storm this year could face the reigning Wimbledon champion in the fourth round if both players get to that stage. Andreescu has long stated her admiration for the Romanian, having lived in the country for a few years after being born in Mississauga, Ont.

Seeded 15th at the tournament, Andreecu will meet 407th-ranked Katie Volynets in the first round and potentially faces a tricky matchup against former World No. 1 and two-time U.S. Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki in the third round.

Eugenie Bouchard faces a tough ask in her first-round matchup against 12th-seeded Anastasija Sevastova. The most notable matchup of the opening round is between former champions Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova. Under the bright lights of New York, that is as big a blockbuster clash as one could hope to see to start the tournament.

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On the men’s side, 18th-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov will square off in a Canadian classic and the former — who has been in excellent form this season — will like his chances of advancing to at least the third round, where 13th-seeded Frenchman Gael Monfils would figure as his most likely opponent and then potentially Dominic Thiem in the fourth round.

Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov met in the first round of this very tournament a year ago as well, with the Montreal native having to sadly retire in the third set after splitting a set apiece due to a heart problem. Both players were visibly upset and Auger-Aliassime was in tears, so hopefully this time around and going forward, there are no health issues to contend with.

Not to be forgotten, 28-year-old Milos Raonic — now the second-best Canadian on the men’s tour — will face Chilean Nicolas Jarry in the first round with the likes of 12th-seeded Borna Coric, Grigor Dimitrov and Kei Nishikori possibly lying in wait before the quarterfinals.

Vasek Pospisil and Brayden Schnur are also in the main draw, but both face tall orders to make it out of the first round with the former having to deal with ninth-seeded Karen Khachanov and the latter facing 29th-seeded Benoit Paire.

Novak Djokovic is the defending champion on the men’s side after defeating Juan Martin Del Potro in last year’s final, while Naomi Osaka won her first Grand Slam title at this event last year with a straight sets win over Serena Williams in the final.

The U.S. Open begins Monday, Aug. 26.

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