Nadal already knows his first rival for the US Open

Rafa Nadal will debut at the 2022 United States Open against Australian Rinky Hijikata, number 198 in the world ranking, while Carlos Alcaraz will debut against Argentine Sebastián Báez, number 37, according to the draw for the men’s draw held this Thursday.

On Nadal’s path to the final are the tricky Russian Aslan Karatsev, 38th in the world, or the unpredictable Italian Fabio Fognini; in the third round Kecmasovic or Gasquet, in the second round Frances Tiafoe or the Argentine Diego ‘El Peque’ Schwartzman and in the quarterfinals they will meet Andrey Rublev, Cam Norrie or Denis Shapovalov. It won’t measure up to Alcaraz until the hypothetical semifinals.

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The Murcian, for his part, after that first round against the Argentine Báez could have a second round with another Argentine, Federico Coria, or the Dutch Tallon Griekspoor. In the third round he has ‘coconut’ Borna Coric, Brooksby or Lajovic, Cilic or Evans in the second round and Jannik Sinner or Hurcasz in the quarters before facing Badal in the penultimate round.

On the other side of the table, Russian Daniil Medvedev, the reigning champion, will begin the defense of his crown against local Stefan Kozlov, world number 110. In the second round Rinderknech will wait for him, in the third Basilashvili or Shelton, in the second round the ‘coconut’ Kyrgios or Roberto Bautista and his fourth is also not one-armed, Auger-Aliassime, Pablo Carreño or De Miñaur. If he overcomes the previous obstacles in the semifinals, he will have Tsitsipas, Ruud or Berrettini.

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In the women’s draw, Paula Badosa makes her debut with Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko and Raducanu, Osaka and Venus Williams on the way. Garbiñe Muguruza will make her debut with the Danish Clara Tauson.

In his farewell to tennis, former World No. 1 Serena Williams is No. 80-ranked Montenegrin Danka Kovinic in the first round.