Chinese players to clash in US Open first round

Peng Shuai, left, and Zheng Jie play during their respective women's singles tennis match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, in London, in this combination photo in June 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

NEW YORK - Zheng Jie and Peng Shuai, who are among a group of outstanding Chinese women's tennis players nicknamed the "golden flowers", will clash in the first round of the US Open.

The winner of the Chinese affair will face Agnieszka Radwanska, the 4th seeded Polish, in the second round.

Chinese top player Li Na withdrew from the tournament due to wrist injury. Zhang Shuai is the only seeded Chinese and she could be the first seed to meet defending champion Serena Williams if she could go through.

Thursday's draw pitted American Serena against compatriot Taylor Townsend in the first round.

Serena, who is seeking for her third consecutive US Open singles title, showed up at the draw ceremony and said, "as an American, it's always very important to play at the US. I don't know who is there (to stop me). I'll play one by one."

Without injured Rafeil Nadal, Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic might face Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka in one semifinal on the men's side.

Second-seeded Roger Federer and fourth-seeded David Ferrer are in the other half and will not face each other in early stage.

The 2014 US Open is scheduled for Aug 25 - Sept 8.