Murray handed day off

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:45

Britain’s world number two has been drawn to face Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis in his opening round match at Flushing Meadows but the first day of the final grand slam event of the year will see defending champions Roger Federer and Serena Williams take centre stage on the main Arthur Ashe Stadium court, both against American wild cards.

World number one and top seed Federer begins his search for a sixth consecutive men’s singles title at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre with a first-round tie against Devin Britton, while women’s defending champion and second seed Williams opens up against Alexa Glatch.

Former champion Kim Clijsters will play the first match on Ashe against unseeded Ukrainian Viktoriya Kutuzova as the Belgian returns for the first time since winning the 2005 US Open. Clijsters has come out of a two-year retirement having had her first child and has been given a wild card entry.

The night session on Ashe will see former homegrown champions Venus Williams and Andy Roddick kick off their campaigns.

Williams, the women’s third seed, plays Russian Vera Dushevina, followed by beaten Wimbledon finalist Roddick’s match against Germany’s Bjorn Phau.

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