Federer, Nadal in opposite halves of US Open draw

New York:

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal could meet in the US Open final even though they are not the top two seeds in a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since 2005.

The US Open draws revealed on Thursday that Swiss world number one Federer and Spanish star Nadal were on opposite sides of the bracket, something not assured for the first time in years because Britain's Andy Murray is now ranked second.

American Devin Britton, the US college champion, will be the first foe for Federer in the year's final Grand Slam event, which starts Monday on the hard courts at Flushing Meadows.

Serbian Novak Djokovic and American Andy Roddick could meet in a quarter-final in Federer's half of the draw with the winner having a chance to meet the top seed.

Roddick pushed Federer to 16-14 in the fifth set of last month's Wimbledon final before falling as the Swiss star claimed his record-setting 15th career Grand Slam title.

"I think he believes again he can win big tournaments," Federer said. "He was so close at Wimbledon. It has changed him. I think he has improved as a player in the past year or two. I also see him going deep into the tournament again at the Open."

On the opposite side of the bracket, Murray and Nadal could meet in the semi-finals. Murray could face Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro in the quarter-finals.

Murray opens against Ernests Gulbis of Latvia and could face big-serving Ivo Karlovic in the third round.

Nadal, coming back from a knee injury, is set to open against France's Richard Gasquet.