Who's playing who? Talking points from US Open draw

1 month ago

BBC Sport tennis news newsman successful New York

British men's number 1 Jack Draper has been handed a US Open first-round lucifer against a still-to-be-determined qualifier arsenic he looks to eclipse past year's breakout Grand Slam tally successful New York.

Draper, 23, mislaid to eventual champion Jannik Sinner successful nan semi-finals - and nan 5th seed whitethorn person to look nan Italian world number 1 again successful this year's quarter-finals.

Emma Raducanu, who is Britain's starring women's player, will besides statesman against a qualifier arsenic she returns erstwhile again to nan segment of her unforgettable title triumph successful 2021.

Raducanu, 22, could travel up against 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, who she precocious played doubles pinch successful Washington, successful nan 3rd round.

Four different Britons person earned nonstop introduction to nan singles draws done their ranking.

Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal person some been drawn against seeded players - Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk and Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia respectively - successful their first-round matches.

Unseeded Cameron Norrie has been paired pinch different vulnerable floater successful American Sebastian Korda, while Jacob Fearnley faces Spanish seasoned Roberto Bautista Agut.

The singles of nan US Open, which is played connected a difficult tribunal successful New York, statesman connected Sunday aft being moved guardant from its accepted Monday start.

What other caught nan oculus successful nan men's draw?

The burning mobility successful nan men's singles is an evident 1 - who tin extremity Sinner and Spanish 2nd seed Carlos Alcaraz carving up different Grand Slam title betwixt them?

The brace person surged good clear of nan remainder of nan ATP Tour successful position of value complete nan past 2 seasons, forging a compelling rivalry which looks group to predominate successful nan coming years.

Nobody has managed to extremity Sinner and Alcaraz sharing nan past 7 awesome titles, underlining their superiority by contesting nan past 2 finals astatine nan French Open and Wimbledon.

Sinner, 24, pulled retired of their Cincinnati last connected Monday done unwellness but was practising astatine Flushing Meadows connected Thursday.

Novak Djokovic, who goes again for a standalone grounds 25th Grand Slam title, remains nan 3rd favourite, contempt property seemingly catching up pinch nan 38-year-old Serb.

Djokovic has not won a awesome since nan 2023 US Open, coming up short against Sinner successful nan business extremity astatine some Roland Garros and Wimbledon this year.

The seventh seed cannot look Sinner until nan final, having been put successful 22-year-old Alcaraz's broadside of nan tie instead.

If Djokovic is to yet move clear of Margaret Court successful position of awesome titles, he mightiness person to hit Alcaraz - who won nan first of his 5 awesome titles astatine Flushing Meadows successful 2022 - successful nan semi-finals.

Both Djokovic and Alcaraz, however, person landed tricky-looking opponents successful nan first round.

Djokovic faces talented American teen Learner Tien, while Alcaraz must flooded different location subordinate successful elephantine server Reilly Opelka.

What other caught nan oculus successful nan women's draw?

After uncovering herself successful a slump astatine nan commencement of nan season, Poland's Iga Swiatek has rediscovered her shape and goes into nan last awesome of nan play arsenic astir people's favourite for nan trophy.

That position has been reinforced pursuing a favourable-looking tie for nan precocious crowned Wimbledon champion, who won nan Flushing Meadows title successful 2022.

Second seed Swiatek, who warmed up by claiming nan Cincinnati title, should person fewer problems earlier nan quarter-final shape if nan 24-year-old reaches her apical level connected a aboveground connected which she has antecedently thrived.

American 3rd seed Coco Gauff, who fulfilled her long-vaunted talent by winning nan 2023 title earlier adding a 2nd awesome astatine nan French Open successful June, is simply a imaginable semi-final opponent.

She landed successful nan aforesaid half arsenic Swiatek and avoided defending champion Aryna Sabalenka.

World number 1 Sabalenka was retired of sorts astatine nan WTA 1000 arena successful Cincinnati, playing erratically arsenic she scraped past Raducanu earlier being outclassed by Rybakina.

One of those 2 could origin much problems for nan 27-year-old Belarusian successful their projected quarter-final.

Two veterans are besides worthy keeping an oculus on.

American awesome Venus Williams, a two-time victor who galore thought was adjacent to status earlier this year, has been fixed a wildcard astatine nan property of 45, while erstwhile Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, 35, will bring nan curtain down connected her profession aft confirming it will beryllium her farewell tournament.