Russian third seed Maria Sharapova withdrew from the U.S. Open with a right leg injury, easing the path to a calendar-year Grand Slam for top-ranked Serena Williams.
U.S. Open tournament director David Brewer announced Sharapova's exit, which allowed qualifying lucky loser Daria Kasatkina of Russia into the draw in Sharapova's place.
Sharapova had been the highest-seeded rival in Williams' half of the U.S. Open draw, a status that now belongs to seventh-seeded Serbian Ana Ivanovic, a possible semi-final foe for Williams.
Williams is trying to complete the first Grand Slam calendar-year title sweep since Steffi Graf in 1988 and match Graf's Open Era-record of 22 Slam singles crowns.
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