New York, Aug. 24 -- Serena Williams vs. Maria Sharapova is, not surprisingly, getting primetime billing at the US Open.

The two tennis stars' 22nd career meeting - and first at Flushing Meadows - will be the opening act in Arthur Ashe Stadium for the night session on Monday as the year's last Grand Slam tournament gets started.

"Of course I'm going to watch it. I know you all are going to watch it. I think everyone in New York is going to watch it," defending champion and No. 1 seed Naomi Osaka said Friday. "Yeah, I mean, for me, I'm not that surprised that that happened, because, like, at every Grand Slam, there is always some sort of drama. You know what I mean? Like a first round. Like, 'Oh, my God!'"

The U.S. Tennis Association an...