Serena Williams begins what is expected to be her final U.S. Open with a match against Montenegro's Danka Kovinic, but things could get tough quickly for the 23-time Grand Slam champion with No. 2 seed Anett Kontaveit possibly awaiting the winner.
The U.S. Open draw, released on Thursday, did Williams no favors, with the 40-year-old American landing in the bottom quarter with fifth-seeded Tunisian Ons Jabeur, the Wimbledon runner-up, 10th-seeded Russian Daria Kasatkina and Canadian Leylah Fernandez, who lost in last year's final.
Williams announced her intention to retire this month, saying she was "evolving away from tennis" but never confirming the U.S. Open as her final event.