NEW YORK, NY, USA - Simona Halep will take on Maria Sharapova in what promises to be a thrilling first round clash at the US Open.

Halep and Sharapova played a dramatic three-setter in the final of the 2014 French Open, but the Romanian is yet to beat the former WTA World No.1 in six previous matches.

Should she make it past Sharapova, British No.1 Johanna Konta is her projected quarterfinal opponent; Konta rallied from within two points of defeat to end Halep's bid to become World No.1 at Wimbledon.

Read more: Battle for No.1: Eight players set to fight for top spot at US Open

Defending champion Angelique Kerber has a tricky test as she takes on Japan's Naomi Osaka.

Kerber captured her second major title en route to the No.1 ranking at this very tournament last year, but will face a tough test if she aims to repeat, projected to face on-fire nemesis Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals.

Svitolina will open against Katerina Sinakova, who won her second title of 2017 at the Ericsson Open in Bastad - defeating former No.1 Caroline Wozniacki in the final.

Read more: US Open seeds: Wozniacki fifth, Pliskova top

Wozniacki's projected quarterfinal opponent is Garbiñe Muguruza. The Wimbledon champion is in the midst of an excellent run of form after winning the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. The Spaniard will kick off her US Open campaign against Varvara Lepchenko.

World No.1 Karolina Pliskova will play her first round against Magda Linette, and is projected to play 2004 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the last eight.

Projected Round of 16:

Karolina Pliskova - Kristina Mladenovic
Svetlana Kuznetsova - Agnieszka Radwanska
Angelique Kerber - Jelena Ostapenko
Elina Svitolina - Madison Keys

Garbiñe Muguruza - Petra Kvitova
Caroline Wozniacki - Venus Williams
Johanna Konta - Dominika Cibulkova
Simona Halep - Anastasija Sevastova