Novak Djokovic faces the daunting prospect of possibly having to beat Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal to win the US Open for the first time and end the year as the world No. 1. The Serbian has already won this season's Australian Open and Wimbledon titles and is the overwhelming favorite to win the last Grand Slam of 2011, starting at Flushing Meadows Monday, to wrap up the top spot for the end of year rankings. But a niggling shoulder injury that forced him to quit last weekend's Masters final in Cincinnati, has raised questions about his fitness, especially with his foes lurking ominously at the business end of the tournament after the official draw was conducted in New York on Thursday. Djokovic was drawn to launch his tournament against an as yet unknown qualifier but if results go according to the rankings, the top seed will face a tricky last weekend, when the semifinals and final will be played on successive days. His projected semifinal opponent is five-time US Open champion and third seed Federer, who faces Colombia's Santiago Giraldo in the first round. If Djokovic can beat the most prolific male Grand Slam winner of all time, his opponent in the final could be either Nadal, who beat him in last year's final, or the in-form Briton Andy Murray. Djokovic is not the only top player with concerns. Nadal has been battling blisters and Federer has not won a Grand Slam in nearly two years. Former world No. 1 John McEnroe, speaking on American television network ESPN, said he was tipping Murray to win the men's singles title. The Scotsman's first round opponent is Somdev Devvarman of India. The return of American Serena Williams provided an element of suspense and intrigue to the women's draw, weakened by the absence of injured Belgian Kim Clijsters. The 29-year-old American was paired to meet Serbia's Bojana Jovanovska in the opening round with fourth seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus waiting in the third round. Serena fared well in the draw. If results go according to seedings, she could face Italy's Francesca Schiavone in the quarterfinals and world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki in the semis. The Dane was a runner-up in New York two years ago but has yet to win a Grand Slam and could faces a tricky quarterfinal herself, against China's French Open champion Li Na, after opening against Nuria Llagostera Vives of Spain. Russia's Maria Sharapova, seeded third, was drawn to face Britain's Heather Watson in the first round ahead of a possible quarterfinal against Petra Kvitova, the Czech who beat her in this year's Wimbledon final. Russia's Vera Zvonareva, the world No. 2 and second seed, was pitted against undecided qualifier in the same quarter of the draw as Venus Williams, who was unseeded after a long layoff.
