Rafael Nadal to Face Richard Gasquet in First Round of U.S. Open ALLEZ GASQUET ! 
Former world No. 1 Rafael Nadal has been handed a tricky first-round encounter at the U.S. Open, as the Spaniard will take on Frenchman Richard Gasquet in his opening match at Flushing Meadows.
Gasquet will be playing his first competitive match since being ruled out due to a ban for cocaine.
Nadal, on the other hand, will be playing in only his third tournament of the year, as a knee injury prevented the world No. 3 from defending his titles at Queens and Wimbledon.
After winning this year's Australian Open in January, Nadal had appeared on course to dominate men's tennis. However, the knee injury forced Nadal onto the sidelines, while Roger Federer reclaimed his No. 1 crown.
Nadal has a chance to end the year the way it started by winning the one Grand Slam to elude him: The U.S. Open. And should he do so, Nadal would become only the sixth man in the Open era to complete the career Grand Slam.
Given the determination and courage that Nadal has shown throughout the course of his career, it would take a brave person to bet against the Spaniard.