Daria Gavrilova faces an intriguing clash with Serena Williams at this week's WTA tournament in Cincinnati.
Williams is preparing to launch her bid for a seventh US Open title later this month.
But the world No.26 is coming off a a shock 6-1 6-0 loss to Johanna Konta in the first round in San Jose two weeks ago and she withdrew from the subsequent Montreal tournament due to personal reasons.
World No.23 Gavrilova will be playing Williams for the third time when they meet in the first round and she will be seeking a first win over the 23-time grand slam singles champion.
Fellow Australian Ash Barty, is seeded 16th and faces Czech wildcard Marketa Vondrousova first up.
However, world No.1 Simona Halep, who beat Barty in the semi-finals in Montreal on Saturday, looms as a potential third-round opponent.
In qualifying, Ajla Tomljanovic beat Kurumi Nara 6-4 6-3 to move to within one win of the main draw and next faces Romanian Sorana Cirstea.
Sam Stosur lost her first-round qualifying match to American Allie Kiick.
In the main draw for the men's tournament in Cincinnati, 2017 finalist Nick Kyrgios is seeded 15th and will play a qualifier in his first-round match.
He could face No.4 seed Juan Martin del Potro in the third round.
Kyrgios is the only Australian in the tournament after John Millman was forced to retire from his first-round qualifying match.
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