Raducanu and Draper Face Challenges at US Open
Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper are set to play qualifiers in the opening round of the US Open, before facing tougher opponents.
Early Matches Bring Mixed Fortunes
Raducanu, who recently showed strong performance by pushing the World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to a third-set tiebreak in Cincinnati, will open against a qualifier. Notably, she was a qualifier herself during her memorable victory in New York four years ago.
Potential Opponents Looming
However, Raducanu’s path includes formidable players like the 24th seed Veronika Kudermetova, who reached the Cincinnati semi-finals, and her possible third-round adversary, former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, who recently defeated Sabalenka.
Draper’s Road to Quarter-Finals
For Draper, who has had limited match play since Wimbledon, starting off against a qualifier is a manageable beginning. However, he faces a significant challenge in repeating his semi-final run from last year, especially with Jannik Sinner likely blocking his path in the quarter-finals.
Other British Players in Tough Bracket
Other British players have difficult matchups. Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal face seeded competitors Marta Kostyuk and Beatriz Haddad-Maia, while Cameron Norrie meets former Australian Open semi-finalist Sebastian Korda, and Jacob Fearnley will take on Roberto Bautista Agut.
Djokovic’s Championship Aspirations
Novak Djokovic, pursuing his 25th grand slam title, will start his US Open journey without any match play since his Wimbledon semi-final loss. He faces the young Learner Tien in a first-round matchup, a promising player with notable victories in his initial tour season.
Top Seeds and Their Challenges
As the seventh seed, Djokovic’s path could lead him to confront both Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner if he hopes to clinch the title. Alcaraz faces a tough opening in Reilly Opelka, while Sinner, eager to recover from a recent illness, begins against Vit Kopriva.
Swiatek and Sabalenka’s Paths
Aryna Sabalenka, the World No. 1, is positioned in a challenging draw that could see her facing Iga Swiatek. Sabalenka has lost to American players in previous grand slams, while Swiatek’s impressive form, including her Cincinnati title, makes her a favorite for the championship.
Intriguing Matches Ahead
Other notable players include Gauff, who has faced challenges since her French Open win, and former champion Venus Williams, who is making a notable return at age 45. Lastly, promising teen Victoria Mboko enters as the 22nd seed after a Canadian Open victory and will go against former Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova.
