Serena to face Kovinic in US Open first round match

NEW YORK, Aug 26 (AFP): Serena Williams will face Danka Kovinic of Montenegro in her first round match at the US Open on Monday following the draw for the tournament.

Williams, the 23-time Grand Slam title winner who has hinted she will make the event her farewell tournament, is in the same quarter of the draw as second seed Anett Kontaveit of Estonia.

The 40-year-old American superstar, whose first Grand Slam title came at the 1999 US Open, would meet Kontaveit in the second round if both win their opening matches at the year's final Grand Slam event.

The USTA announced later Thursday that all women's matches in Williams' half of the draw will be scheduled for Monday.