Andy Murray of Britain (C) returns a ball as he plays with children after the Draw Ceremony before the start of the 2013 US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, Aug 22, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

Serena Williams of the US returns a ball while she attends an exhibition game after the Draw Ceremony before the start of the 2013 US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, Aug 22, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

Potential hurdle

Should Serena overcome that potential hurdle, she could then meet her older sister Venus, who has the chance to advance through Kerber's section of the draw.

However, Serena has no plans to look too far ahead as she sets her sights on winning a 17th Grand Slam singles title.

"I take every match really seriously," Serena said while sitting next to Murray after the draw ceremony. "I don't look too far in the draw. I just look at each match.

"Every match is going to be a very, very tough competition for me and I will just stay focused on one at a time."

Like Murray, Serena is delighted to be back at Flushing Meadows where she won her first Grand Slam singles title at the 1999 US Open.

"It's so important for me," the 31-year-old smiled. "I told my Dad, 'I want to win the US Open when I grow up. I want to be able to win this title.'

"The first time I ever won a Grand Slam was here in Arthur Ashe Stadium so it just has so many great memories. The US Open means everything to me."

Second seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, who beat Serena in Sunday's Cincinnati Open final, has been drawn to meet seventh seed Czech Petra Kvitova in the last eight.

The other potential quarterfinals could see third seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland against fifth seed Li Na of China while fourth-seeded Italian Sara Errani is scheduled to play sixth seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark.

In the opening round, Serena faces an experienced opponent Italian Francesca Schiavone, the 2010 French Open champion, while Azarenka comes up against Germany's Dinah Pfizenmaier.