Emma Raducanu has been handed a challenging path at the US Open, despite avoiding top seeds in the early rounds. The British star, unseeded this year, begins her campaign against a qualifier but could face 24th seed Veronika Kudermetova in round two. A potential third-round opponent is Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion.
Raducanu, ranked 35th, narrowly missed seeding in New York. She arrives in form after pushing world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka to a final-set tie-break in Cincinnati. Last year she lost in the first round, but this time she is match-tough after a consistent few months.
Jack Draper, seeded fifth, returns from injury to face a qualifier or lucky loser in his opener. He has not played singles since Wimbledon due to a forearm issue but looked fit in mixed doubles. Draper is in Jannik Sinner's quarter, with potential opponents including Gabriel Diallo and Lorenzo Musetti.
The women's draw sees defending champion Sabalenka face Rebeka Masarova. Coco Gauff, seeded third, is in Iga Swiatek's half, while Venus Williams meets 11th seed Karolina Muchova in her 25th US Open appearance.
In the men's draw, Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are on course for a third consecutive grand slam final meeting. Alcaraz faces big-serving Reilly Opelka in round one, while Novak Djokovic, seeded seventh, looms in Taylor Fritz's quarter.
Other British players face tough starts: Katie Boulter plays 27th seed Marta Kostyuk, Sonay Kartal meets 18th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia, Cameron Norrie faces Sebastian Korda, and Jacob Fearnley takes on Roberto Bautista Agut.
