If Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal don’t meet at this U.S. Open, maybe they never will.
The seventh-seeded Federer is on track to finally face Nadal at the Open and it would be in a quarterfinal showdown following Thursday’s draw at the USTA National Tennis Center.
The slumping Swiss Maestro is seeded seventh – his lowest seed here since 2002. Nadal, who missed last year’s Open with chronic knee issues, is seeded second after a spectacular summer. By luck of the draw, Federer was slotted in Nadal’s quarter in what would be the Open’s highlight match.
In one of the great oddities of the Nadal-Federer rivalry, they have never met at the Open, where Nadal has won once. Nadal leads the all-time series vs. Federer, 21-10.
American John Isner could crash the Nadal-Federer party. The great American Hope – and only hope – got a lousy draw as the 13th seed and stands to meet Nadal in the fourth round. If he posts the upset, Federer could lie in waiting.
Defending Open and Wimbledon champion Andy Murray has a smooth draw and would face No. 1 seed Novak Djokovic in the semifinals in a rematch of their U.S. Open and Wimbledon finals.
In the women’s draw, No. 1 seed and defending champion Serena Williams could face in the fourth round American up-and-comer Sloane Stephens.
Her father, Richard Williams, often predicted Serena would retire young but that prediction is looking errant as she said Wednesday she feels like 23 again.
“There’s so much left for me,’’ Williams told The Post at a Delta ping-pong event at Madison Square Park. “I obviously want to win another Open, more Grand Slams. I definitely don’t want to stop. I have no idea (when I’d retire). I honestly feel I’m 23.’’
Appearing at the draw Thursday, Serena said, “I’m so passionate.’’
Serena’s main competition should come from second seed Victoria Azarenka, who beat her in a third-set tiebreaker last week in the finals at Cincinnati.
As for Federer’s chances of adding a sixth Open, John McEnroe said on a conference call Wednesday, “He’s in a tough predicament because he’s so great it’s going to be mentally difficult for him to deal with what his results have been this year. Obviously when you get into your 30’s, tennis takes its toll and physically starts to slow you down.’’