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Ash Barty gets huge boost in bid for US Open glory

Australian Associated Press

Ashleigh Barty has been handed a soft draw at the US Open, while fellow Australian John Millman will face an opening-round blockbuster against Rafael Nadal.

Barty has been handed a seemingly easier draw at next week's grand slam with the only top 10 seeds on her side of the split being Karolina Pliskova (3), Serena Williams (8), Madison Keys (10) and Elina Svitolina (5).

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The world No.2, who faces Kazakh Zarina Diyas in her opening match, won't face any big guns until a potential match-up with Williams in the quarter-finals.

However, there is the possibility of a tough match with world No.14 Angelique Kerber in the fourth round.

Ash Barty, pictured here in action at the Cincinnati Masters.
Ash Barty in action at the Cincinnati Masters. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

If Barty prevails in the last eight she could face Pliskova or Svitolina or Keys in the semi-finals.

On the same side of the draw, Samantha Stosur faces Alexandrova Ekaterina in the first round, while fellow Australian Daria Gavrilova will take on Frenchwoman Fiona Ferro.

Big guns Naomi Osaka, Simona Halep, Kiki Bertens, Petra Kvitova and Aryna Sabalenka are all on the other side of the draw.

Australian Astra Sharma will face Poland's Magda Linette in her opener with reward for the winner being a second-round meeting with world No.1 Osaka, while compatriot Alja Tomljanovic plays Czech Marie Bouzkova.

Aussie men cop tough draw

In the men's draw, Millman drew the short straw by facing world No.2 Nadal in his opener.

The 30-year-old will have to draw on his experience at last year's tournament after his last 16 victory over Roger Federer.

But the reigning French Open champion is likely to present the Australian with a much tougher opponent this time around.

Australian No.1 Nick Kyrgios plays American Steve Johnson in the first round before a potential fourth-round clash with friend and eighth-seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.

John Millman, pictured here in action at the US Open in 2018.
John Millman at the US Open in 2018. (Photo by Mohammed Elshamy/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Kyrgios' next potential top 10 opponent would be fourth-seeded Dominic Thiem in the quarter-finals before a potential semi-final match with either Nadal, world No.6 Alexander Zverev or world No.9 Karen Kachanov.

Alex de Minaur faces Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the first round with a possible third-round match against seventh seed Kei Nishikori and then, if he gets that far, a potential quarter-final with third seed Roger Federer.

Australian Jordan Thompson plays Portugal's Joao Sousa first up while compatriot Alexei Popyrin is up against Argentine Federico Delbonis.

Wildcard Thanasi Kokkinakis is drawn with a qualifier in his opener before he will play either fellow Australian Millman or Nadal in the second round.

WHO THE AUSSIES WILL PLAY:

WOMEN

2-Ashleigh Barty v Zarina Diyas (KAZ)

Samantha Stosur v Alexandrova Ekaterina (RUS)

Daria Gavrilova v Fiona Ferro (FRA)

Alja Tomljanovic v Marie Bouzkova (CZE)

Astra Sharma v Magda Linette (POL)

MEN

28-Nick Kyrgios v Steve Johnson (USA)

John Millman v 2-Rafael Nadal (ESP)

Alex de Minaur v Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA)

Jordan Thompson v Joao Sousa (POR)

Alexei Popyrin v Federico Delbonis (ARG)

Thanasi Kokkinakis v qualifier

* (prefix denotes seeding)