Washington, Aug 22 (IANS): Defending champion Serena Williams will face compatriot Taylor Townsend in the first round of the women's singles of the US Open after the draw was concluded here Thursday.

Williams, who is seeking for her third consecutive US Open singles title, showed up at the draw ceromony 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," Xinhua reported.

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.

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 Serena if she could go through.

And the other two Chinese players, Peng Shuai and Zheng Jie, set up a first-round meeting and the winner will face Agnieszka Radwanska, the fourth seeded Polish, in the second round.

The 2014 US Open is scheduled from Aug 25-Sep 8.