Andy Murray was handed a tough start to his US Open quest, drawing unseeded Nick Kyrgios in round one.

The competition begins next Monday.

Murray, who won his first Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows in 2012, must negotiate his way past the man who stunned Rafael Nadal at the 2014 Wimbledon event.

The controversial Australian was given a suspended 28-day ban and $25,000 fine for the vulgar comments he directed towards Stan Wawrinka at the Rogers Cup earlier this month.

The ATP said the 20-year-old had been found guilty of "aggravated behaviour" during the second round match in Montreal, when Kyrgios's comments about Wawrinka's alleged girlfriend were picked up by on-court microphones.

Third seed Murray has also been placed in the same half as Roger Federer, meaning they could meet in the semi-finals. The 28-year-old has played Kyrgios twice in Grand Slams this year, winning in straight sets at both the Australian and French Opens.

Murray also won the other match between the pair in the Rogers Cup last year.

Top seed Novak Djokovic takes on Joao Souza of Brazil in New York.

Women's defending champion Serena Williams, who is aiming to complete a calendar Grand Slam, will play Russian Vitalia Diatchenko, while men's defending champion Marin Cilic will face a qualifier.

Serena's path?

Williams could face Maria Sharapova for her second straight major semifinal as she seeks to complete the Grand Slam.

Thursday's draw filled the top-ranked Williams' quarter of the bracket with Americans, nine in all.

In the third round, Williams could face 29th-seeded Sloane Stephens, who beat her in the 2013 Australian Open and is coming off her first WTA title in Washington this month. Another up-and-coming U.S. player, 19th-seeded Madison Keys, could await in the fourth round.

And in the quarterfinals, one potential opponent is her sister, 23rd-seeded Venus Williams. Another possible quarterfinal foe is 12th-seeded Swiss teen Belinda Bencic, who recently upset Williams in Toronto en route to a breakthrough title.

Williams is seeking to complete the first Grand Slam since Steffi Graf in 1988.

She beat Sharapova in the semifinals of Wimbledon for her 17th straight victory over the Russian on the way to her second "Serena Slam" -- four major championships in a row, but just not in the same year.

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