NEW YORK -- Top-ranked Serena Williams, who is seeking a record 23rd Grand Slam title, will meet two-time major semifinalist Ekaterina Makarova in the first round of the US Open, it was announced Friday.Makarova made two straight major semis: at the 2014 US Open, where she lost to Williams, and the 2015 Australian Open. Her ranking has slipped to 36th, and she just missed a seed at Flushing Meadows. The Russian is coming off an Olympic doubles gold medal.Im OK with it, Williams said of the match. I think I try to look at it as we all always have tough matches. I played her I think in the semis before. I know shes a good player. Ive just got to do the best I can.Williams said she hasnt practiced much because of an injury to her right shoulder, which bothered her during her third-round loss at the Olympics and was the reason she pulled out of the hard-court warm-up event in Cincinnati.I have not played a lot, I havent practiced a lot, but Im just now starting to feel a little better, said Williams, who added that shes been doing a lot of physical therapy.Williams could face fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska in the semifinals, which is also when she could potentially meet sister Venus. Australian Open champ Angelique Kerber and French Open winner Garbine Muguruza are in the other half of the draw, which was set Friday.Williams is tied with Steffi Graf for the most Grand Slam titles during the Open era.On the mens side, top-ranked Novak Djokovic, who injured his left wrist just before the Rio Olympics,?will open the final Grand Slam event of the season against 2013 Wimbledon semifinalist Jerzy Janowicz.Janowicz has been ranked as high as 14th but has struggled in recent years and missed much of this season because of injuries. Hes currently ranked 228th and used a protected ranking to get into the US Open.The right-handed Djokovic, who needs the left wrist for his backhand, said hell be ready to make his title defense at Flushing Meadows.Im doing everything in my power with the medical team to make sure that Im as close to 100 percent as possible during the course of this tournament, at least for the beginning of it, Djokovic said Friday. After undergoing certain treatments, Ive gotten better. Im just hoping that Monday when the tournament starts Ill be able to, as I said, get as close to the maximum of executing my backhand shot as possible.?The 12-time major champ also said his issues at Wimbledon, where he was upset in the third round, werent physical, but there were other things I was going through.He declined to elaborate on those problems other than to say they had been resolved.Other than that loss in the Olympic Games and Wimbledon, Ive had a phenomenal season -- definitely rank this season one of the best that Ive had in career, Djokovic said. So I dont feel like it has shaken me too much. I just hope to be healthy and to be enabled to play the way I wish to play in US Open. Thats why Im here.Fridays draw set Djokovic and Rafael Nadal as potential semifinal opponents, while Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka are in the other half of the bracket.Nadal, who has missed more than two months since withdrawing from the French Open with a left wrist injury, said he still isnt 100 percent but I can start to hit my normal forehand.When Nadal first came back from the injury, he had to adjust his technique to avoid pain. Now he says he needs to get comfortable again with his regular stroke.Olympic silver medalist Juan Martin del Potro could face 19th-seeded American Steve Johnson in the second round. Ranked No. 142 because of three left wrist surgeries, the 2009 US Open champ got in with a wild card.The Associated Press contributed to this report. Andrew Norwell Jersey . Toronto has dropped games to Indiana and Miami since a five-game winning streak and closed out a three-game road trip at 1-2. Dede Westbrook Jersey .Y. -- Syracuse has turned up the defence at the right time all season, and when High Point threatened to pull off a monumental upset the second-ranked Orange did what they do best with their quick hands and savvy play. http://www.thejaguarsfansshop.com/Jaguars-Donte-Moncrief-Draft-Jersey/ . Third-seeded Murray had the easiest path to victory on New Years Eve, barely breaking a sweat during his 6-0, 6-0 win over 2,129th-ranked Qatari wildcard recipient Mousa Shanan Zayed. Myles Jack Jersey . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. Keelan Cole Jersey .5 seconds to play in the game, Kevin Love never stopped believing that they would come out of there with a win. MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- During the course of two blowout victories, No. 19 West Virginia emptied its bench and coasted through sloppy stretches.Only two members of the Mountaineers (2-0) played 20 minutes in each game as coach Bob Huggins experimented with various groupings, paying particular interest to the progress of six freshmen. He used all 14 available players in Mondays 107-66 romp against Mississippi Valley State, with only guard Daxter Miles sitting out with an extended illness.When you play that many guys its hard to be sharp, Huggins said. Were going to have to limit the rotation, but at least those two games were a good chance to see what players can do -- or not do.After starting 65 games the previous two seasons, Miles is not expected back for Sunday afternoons game against New Hampshire (2-1), a mid-major program coming off an erratic week. The Wildcats stunned Temple 57-52, only to come crashing down Thursday during a 65-57 home loss to Abilene Christian.Theres a right way to lose and theres a wrong way to lose, and we lost the wrong way, said UNH coach Bill Herrion.I saw it right from the beginning. We had a couple of opportunities early to attack the rim and make layups, and we were just flipping the ball nonchalantly and not going up strong.Guard Jaleen Smith (18 points, 9.7 rebounds) ignited New Hampshires second-half rally against Abilene Christian, and complements the inside-out sskills of forward Tanner Leissner (14.dddddddddddd3 points,10 rebounds).West Virginia, with its full-court press turning many possessions into scrambles, generates points from a number of angles, including forward Nathan Adrian (14 points, 8. 5 rebounds) and guard Jevon Carter (10 points, five assists). Six other players are averaging 8.5 points or more so far, though Huggins hasnt been pleased with the defensive intensity.A 64-28 halftime lead on Mississippi Valley State gave way to lethargic moments over the final 20 minutes, leaving Huggins to grouse.Id like for us to play 40 minutes, he said. What the good teams here have learned is that when you get somebody on the mat you try to keep them there. You dont let them up and say Lets try this again. This team hasnt learned that.Sundays matchup opens the NIT Tipoff, an event that will take West Virginia to Brooklyn during Thanksgiving weekend for games against Illinois and then Florida State or Temple.Huggins cautioned his team not to overlook UNH, which is building off the programs first 20-win season.New Hampshires good, he said. Theyre not Illinois, obviously, and theyre not Florida State, theyre not Virginia -- but theyre pretty good.We kinda didnt get ready for 2/3 zone a couple years ago and almost lost to Monmouth. 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