Rusedski set for rematch against Hewitt

Lleyton Hewitt is likely to have a quick chance for revenge over Greg Rusedski after the US Open draw yesterday presented them with a likely second-round meeting.

The defending champion lost to Rusedski last week in the last 16 of the Indianapolis event, which the Briton went on to win for his second title of the year.

The Australian world No 1 Hewitt stands 3-3 in head-to-head meetings with Rusedski, but he has lost their last two encounters on a hard court. Hewitt won last year's US Open, his first grand slam title, beating Pete Sampras in the final.

Like Rusedski, Tim Henman, seeded fifth, will also face a qualifier, with the powerful American teenager Andy Roddick probably standing in his way at the fourth-round stage.

Henman and Rusedski are taking no chances with their fitness. Rusedski has withdrawn from this week's Hamlet Cup in Long Island due to blisters on his feet and Henman is confident he will shake off the shoulder injury that forced him to withdraw from Indianapolis.

Andre Agassi, who has one less US Open title than Sampras, will face his fellow American Robby Ginepri. The sixth seed won the last of his home grand slams in 1999.

Sampras, who opens against the Spaniard Albert Portas, remains optimistic of winning the US Open despite his 6-3, 6-7, 6-4 defeat against Paul-Henri Mathieu in the Hamlet Cup on Tuesday. "You have to remember who I am and where I'm playing next week," he said. "The US Open is where you shine, and that is where I hope to shine.

"I'm not the man to beat like I once was – Lleyton Hewitt has taken that role. But I'm still one of the favourites. The days of me dominating and being No 1 are probably over. My goal is to win another major and, hopefully, destiny will be on my side at the Open."