US Open draw: Emma Raducanu handed tough start as Jack Draper eyes Carlos Alcaraz match-up

Emma Raducanu has been handed a nasty-looking draw at the US Open as she seeks her first win in New York since winning the title in 2021.

The 21-year-old shocked the world when she won at Flushing Meadows three years ago but lost in the first round in 2022 and then missed last year with injury.

The draw has been unkind to the British number two, who has drawn former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, currently ranked 55th, in the first round.

If she wins that then American sixth seed Jessica Pegula is likely to be waiting in the second round before a possible all-British third round tie against Katie Boulter.

Raducanu could then need to beat 11th seed Danielle Collins just to get a crack at world number one Iga Swiatek in the quarter-final.

Boulter, seeded 31st, has a more favourable route to a possible third-round meeting with Raducanu as she faces a qualifier in the first round and then will meet the winner of Jessica Bouzas Maneiro or Petra Martic in the second round.

Harriet Dart meets wildcard Chloe Paquet, with a possible second-round tie against 13th seed Emma Navarro.

Jack Draper will hope to shake off the controversy that surrounds him with a first-round win over Zhizhen Zhang. Draper, seeded 25th, comes into the tournament on the back of accusations of cheating after a controversial match point against Felix Auger-Aliassime where the ball appeared to hit the floor on his side of the net before bouncing over.

If the British number one, who is flying the flag in the first grand slam since Andy Murray's retirement, can progress through the early rounds, a likely third-round meeting with Carlos Alcaraz awaits.

Dan Evans, who has been struggling for form in 2024, meets Karen Khachanov in the first round.

World number one Jannik Sinner is another player shrouded in controversy after he avoided a doping ban, despite two positive tests for a banned substance earlier this year.

The Italian was cleared of any wrongdoing, with an investigation accepting Sinner's explanation that the substance had accidentally entered his system via a product one of his team had used to treat a small wound. American Mackenzie McDonald awaits in the first round.

Alcaraz and defending champion Novak Djokovic both meet qualifiers in the first round and the draw means their enthralling rivalry could possibly get its next instalment in the final.

Defending women's champion Coco Gauff begins against Varvara Gracheva, while Swiatek, gunning for a second title at Flushing Meadows, and Aryna Sabalenka, last year's runner-up meet qualifiers.

There is a blockbusting meeting of former grand slam champions as Naomi Osaka takes on Jelena Ostapenko.

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