NEW YORK(SMI-WIRE,08.26.16)The USTA and the US Open 2016 held it's annual draw to set-up the bracket of players in the women and men's singles competition of the upcoming 2016 US Open @ Flushing Meadows NYC.World ranked #1 Serena Williams was matched with Ekaterina Makarova (Russia ) ranked #36 will meet in the first round of the US OPEN 2016.In the men's draw Novak Djokovic was paired-up with Jerzy Janowicz from Poland where they will meet in the first round of the US Open 2016.

​

Find the Women's draw list brakett below:

​

1. WILLIAMS, Serena USA [1] 2. MAKAROVA, Ekaterina RUS

8. IVANOVIC, Ana SRB [29] 9. KASATKINA, Daria RUS [23]

16. STOSUR, Samantha AUS [16] 17. SUAREZ NAVARRO, Carla ESP [11]

24. VESNINA, Elena RUS [19] 25. BABOS, Timea HUN [31]

32. HALEP, Simona ROU [5] 33. RADWANSKA, Agnieszka POL [4]

40. GARCIA, Caroline FRA [25] 41. BERTENS, Kiki NED [20]

48. BACSINSZKY, Timea SUI [15] 49. PLISKOVA, Karolina CZE [10]

56. PAVLYUCHENKOVA, Anastasia RUS [17] 57. SIEGEMUND, Laura GER [26]

64. WILLIAMS, Venus USA [6]  65. KEYS, Madison USA [8]

72. VANDEWEGHE, Coco USA [28] 73. STRYCOVA, Barbora CZE [18]

80. KUZNETSOVA, Svetlana RUS [9] 81. KONTA, Johanna GBR [13]

88. BENCIC, Belinda SUI [24] 89. PUIG, Monica PUR [32]

96. MUGURUZA, Garbine ESP [3] 97. VINCI, Roberta ITA [7]

104. DOI, Misaki JPN [30] 105. BEGU, Irina-Camelia ROU [21]

112. CIBULKOVA, Dominika SVK [12] 113. KVITOVA, Petra CZE [14]

120. SVITOLINA, Elina UKR [22] 121. ERRANI, Sara ITA [27]

128. KERBER, Angelique GER [2]

​

Starlight Media Illustrated attended the Press-Conference of Serena Williams prior to the start of the US Open 2016 tournament and this is what she said:

​

Question:How much, if at all, does an Olympic year alter or change your preparation for the US Open ?

Serena Williams: I think it could either help you or not.I think regardless,

it's alwys a real privilege to play at the Olympics.

Question: Shoulder ? How you feeling coming into the tournament? you haven't played a lot. Can you talk about how you're feeling both physically and mentally ?

Serena Williams:Yeah, I have not played a lot.I haven't practiced a lot, but

I'm just now starting to feel a liitle better.Hopefully just everyday I will keep gong higher.

Question: How tough were these last couple weeks for you ? Dissapointing losses in Brazil and going to Cincinnati and practicing but not playing , which we don't see you do all that often.How tough has it been to reset, short tournaround between Olympics and here ?

Serena Williams:Yeah, It wasn't very easy  think physically. Just really trying so hard and trying everything to get better.

But, Yeah, just--at the end of the day I knew I gave the best effort I could , and it just wasn't enough. I just--Olympics I just practiced two days before

playing my match.It's not ideal, but it was all I could do.

So, you know, like I said. I'm starting to feel better now, and that's really positive.

Question: When you walked on the grounds here for the first time, this tournament, did you feel a surge of energy ? Dd you feel-- you know, when you left here you weren't happy last year ?Can you desscribe kind of the sensations that you went through coming back this year ?

Serena Williams:I always feel really happy walking out at any Grand Slam

(Smiling). I feel so many wonderful memories and moments.Yeah, I feel

really good about it.Same with coming here to New York.It's always a good feeling.

Question: You play a tough player in the firt round, Makarova.What are you thoughts about that match and about having such a tough match in round one ?

Serena Williams:I think it's okay.I'm okay with it.I think I try to look at it

we all always have tough matches.I played her I think in the semis I think

before. I know she's a good player. I've just got to do the best I can.

Question:What are the particulars of her (Makarova) game that have impressed you the most ?

Serena Williams:Well, you know, she's a big fighter.She never really stops.

I think one thing I think that's pretty impressive is she's pretty--she gets a lot balls back. You think she's not super quick, but she is.

Question: How different is the pressure for you this year looking at 23 as opposed to last year when you had that possibility of the slam ?

Serena Williams:I think each is different. I just really--- at this point , I'm taking it a day at a time.I don't know. I think I just am more relaxed, for sure.

Question:A lot American women in the main draw this year.How encouraging is it to see that next wave of Amercans coming through,

and who has impressed you among the up and coming American players ?

Serena Williams: Yeah, It's always good.There was a ton of American players in the draw last year, as well.It's so good to see so many players 

in teh draw. I think right now Madison is probably leading the pack with the new young Americans doing well, and Sloane is really--she's won like three or four tournament this year.Yeah, those two are really just leading 

thre pack of the new young guns.