Brits Greg Rusedski and Tim Henman could meet in the fourth round of the US Open.

The pair have never gone head-to-head in a grand slam before. Left-hander Rusedski must first complete the tricky task of tackling Younes El Aynaoui of Morocco in the first round. The two have never met in competition. Henman, who has twice had to come from behind to beat El Aynaoui, begins his campaign against a qualifier in the first round, as does defending champion Marat Safin. If the two Brits are to face each other, they both have to overcome French opponents in the third round. Rusedski is lined up to face Sebastien Grosjean while Henman could square up to Fabrice Santoro. Britain's other entrant in the singles, Martin Lee, has been drawn against Holland's Sjeng Schalken, the 24th seed. In the women's singles, champion Venus Williams, who will play a qualifier in the first round, could face sister Serena, winner here in 1999, in a grand slam final for the first time. But former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez withdrew from the competition moments before the draw. The 29-year-old, who was to have been the 21st seed in the tournament's expanded 32-seed field, is suffering with a right Achilles tendon injury. As a result, all of the women's seeds from number 22 through 32 were move up one slot and Francesca Schiavone of Italy was installed as the new 32nd seed.