Tennis: Kiwis draw revealed at US Open

Artem Sitak in action during the ASB Classic on January 10, 2017. Photo / Getty Images

French Open champions Michael Venus and his American partner Ryan Harrison have been seeded eighth and have been rewarded with a first round match against Jeremy Chardy and Fabrice Martin.

A good run in New York for Venus and Harrison will secure them a place in the season ending ATP World Tour finals in London. They are currently sixth in the race for a place in the elite eight-team field for the O2 Arena.

Kiwi number two Marcus Daniell and his Brazilian partner Marcelo Demoliner will play Spaniard's Fernando Verdasco and Pablo Carreno Busta. The Spanish pair are more noted for their singles with Carreno Busta ranked 19th and Verdasco 43rd.

"They are both great tennis players and both have had some success in doubles and Carreno Busta made the final here last year," Daniell said. "But Marcelo and I are used to playing some of the best singles players in the world and we are looking forward to it."

The third Kiwi Artem Sitak and his Dutch partner Wesley Koolhof face a daunting assignment against sixth seeds Croatian Ivan Dodig and Spaniard Marcel Granollers.

However Granollers has been struggling with injuries of late and the pair hasn't played together since Wimbledon. But they beat Koolhof and his former partner Matwe Middlekoop in the final of Rotterdam in February 6-1, 6-3 and have been consistently one of the best teams in the world.

Sitak said they would watch that match on Youtube in preparation for their encounter.

"It's not the best draw obviously because they are seeded number six." Sitak said.

"But it's ok because we knew we would probably face a seeded team in the first or second round. Our goal is to go deep in the slams and to do that you have to beat the top teams, and we have to play them first round which is fine."

Sitak and Koolhof have only played four tournaments together but the Kiwi says they have gelled quickly.

"We are very happy with the four weeks together and made one ATP final in Atlanta. I felt Wes is the kind of partner I wanted to have." Sitak said.

The move away from Super tie breaks and no advantage at deuce in ATP tournaments to full sets in Grand Slams is something that Sitak relishes.

"We are ready for a long match and are both fit, at Grand Slams there are no super tie breaks, and we play full sets with advantages so in my opinion the better teams win."