Hewitt and Safin handed brutal Open draws

Top seed and defending champion Lleyton Hewitt was handed a tough draw at next week's U.S. Open on Wednesday where he could meet red-hot Briton Greg Rusedski in the second round.

The Australian faces France's Nicolas Coutelot to open his defence but will then come up against former runner-up Rusedski if the unseeded Briton beats a qualifier.

The British number two will take heart from his superb form last week that helped him beat Hewitt on the way to winning the RCA Championships in Indianapolis.

Second seed and 2000 champion Marat Safin also faces a tough time.

The Russian meets German Nicolas Kiefer in his opener and could then play former world number one Gustavo Kuerten in round two.

Four-times champion Pete Sampras meets Spaniard Albert Portas while Andre Agassi, seeded sixth, plays fellow American Robby Ginepri.

In the women's draw, top seed Serena Williams faces wildcard Corina Moriariu who has just returned to the circuit after having treatment for leukaemia.

DEFENDING CHAMPION

Defending champion Venus Williams - seeded second - faces a qualifier, while ninth seed Martina Hingis, on the comeback trail after injury, meets American Marissa Irvin.

Hingis is in the same quarter of the draw as Venus and Monica Seles.

Glamorous American wildcard Ashley Harkleroad has been paired with former French Open champion Iva Majoli while the First Lady of tennis glamour, Anna Kournikova, will have her work cut out against rising Indonesian Angelique Widjaja.

Seventh seed Kim Clijsters plays tenacious Spaniard Conchita Martinez Granados -- no relation to former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez who faces Marlene Weingartner.

Third seed Jennifer Capriati takes on a qualifier. In the quarter-finals, she could face Amelie Mauresmo, the Frenchwoman who beat her in the final in Montreal last week.

Hard-hitting Jelena Dokic, seeded fifth, will open against Germany's Greta Arn.

Men's fifth seed Tim Henman, of Britain, opens up against a qualifier as does American 11th seed Andy Roddick while third-seeded German Tommy Haas clashes with Spain's David Sanchez.

Spanish seventh seed Juan Carlos Ferrero faces a tricky opener against wily Australian serve-volleyer Wayne Arthurs.