Serena Williams has avoided her world number one rivals in the draw for this week’s Sony Open in Miami.
The current world number one was drawn in the same half as fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska on Monday.
Indian Wells winner Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka, who both have a chance of replacing Williams in top spot in Miami, are in the opposite half.
Sharapova and Azarenka both need to win the title to stand any chance of reaching top spot.
Williams could meet British number one Heather Watson in the third round – Watson will meet Japan’s Ayumi Morita first up. If she wins that she’ll face 31st seed Yanina Wickmayer.
Williams, who did not play in Indian Wells, will open against Flavia Pennetta or Johanna Larsson on Thursday. She is in the same quarter as Li Na, who is returning to action for the first time since the Australian Open final following an ankle injury.
Radwanska faces a tough quarter – she’s likely to come up against Petra Kvitova, a player who beat her en route to winning the title in Dubai last month in the last eight.
Sharapova is seeded to meet Sara Errani again – the pair met in Indian Wells – while Azarenka is projected to face Angelique Kerber in the last eight.
Laura Robson is a potential third-round foe for Azarenka – the British teenager will open against Italy’s lower-ranked Camila Giorgi. The winner of that match will meet 32nd seed Alize Cornet in the second round.
The main draw gets under way on Tuesday.
