Emma Raducanu has been handed a challenging route at the US Open, with a potential second-round meeting against in-form Veronika Kudermetova after opening against a qualifier. The unseeded Briton, who won the title here four years ago, could then face Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the third round.
Raducanu, ranked 35th, missed out on seeding by one spot but arrives in New York in strong form after pushing world No1 Aryna Sabalenka to a final-set tie-break in Cincinnati. She seeks her first win at Flushing Meadows since her shock 2021 triumph.
Britain's Jack Draper, seeded fifth, also begins against a qualifier or lucky loser in his first singles match since Wimbledon due to a forearm injury. The semi-finalist from last year sits in Jannik Sinner's quarter, with a potential quarter-final against the top seed a distant prospect given tough opponents like Gabriel Diallo and Lorenzo Musetti.
Sinner, defending champion, opens against Vit Kopriva, while Carlos Alcaraz faces former No17 Reilly Opelka. Novak Djokovic, absent since Wimbledon, could meet Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals.
Other British players face stern tests: Katie Boulter plays Marta Kostyuk, Sonay Kartal meets Beatriz Haddad Maia, Cameron Norrie faces Sebastian Korda, and Jacob Fearnley takes on Roberto Bautista Agut.
