Raducanu avoids top seeds early but faces Kudermetova and Rybakina in brutal US Open path

Emma Raducanu has been handed a daunting route through the US Open draw as she looks to recapture the magic of her sensational title run in 2021. The Briton, unseeded this year, opens against a qualifier but could face Veronika Kudermetova and Elena Rybakina in successive rounds as she chases her first win in New York since lifting the trophy four years ago.

Raducanu enters Flushing Meadows with renewed confidence after her strongest summer in years. She narrowly missed out on a seeding, ranked No 35 in the world – one place outside the cut-off. Her form has been promising, having pushed world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka to a final-set tie-break in a gruelling three-hour clash in Cincinnati. But the draw has done her few favours. Kudermetova, seeded 24th and fresh from a semi-final run in Cincinnati, looms in round two. Should Raducanu advance further, she could face the 2022 Wimbledon champion Rybakina, who is resurgent after also reaching the last four in Cincinnati.

Last year, Raducanu’s campaign ended in disappointment with a first-round exit after an injury-hit build-up. This time, she has momentum, fitness and belief – but the obstacles in her section underline the brutal challenge ahead.

Her compatriot Jack Draper also begins against a qualifier or lucky loser. Seeded fifth, Draper returns to singles action after a left forearm injury sidelined him since Wimbledon. He warmed up by reaching the mixed doubles semi-finals alongside Jessica Pegula earlier this week. Drawn into Jannik Sinner’s quarter, Draper faces a potential last-eight rematch with the Italian, who ended his breakthrough run at the semi-final stage last year. Before that, he must navigate a tough section featuring Gabriel Diallo, Lorenzo Musetti and Flavio Cobolli.

The women’s draw is topped by defending champion Sabalenka, who starts against Rebeka Masarova of Switzerland. Rybakina lurks in her quarter as a potential blockbuster clash, with Jessica Pegula also seeded in the top half. Third seed Coco Gauff is in Iga Swiatek’s half, setting up a possible heavyweight semi-final. Swiatek, in imperious form after Wimbledon and Cincinnati triumphs, opens against Emiliana Arango of Colombia.

Venus Williams continues her extraordinary career with a 25th US Open appearance at age 44, though she faces a daunting opener against 11th seed Karolina Muchova. Williams is the oldest entrant in the tournament since the 1980s.

On the men’s side, Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz remain the heavy favourites, poised for what could be a third consecutive grand slam final showdown. Sinner, who withdrew from the Cincinnati final earlier this week, starts against Vit Kopriva and could face Draper in the quarter-finals. Alexander Zverev, seeded third, is his projected semi-final opponent. Alcaraz, seeded second, has been dealt a dangerous opener against 6ft 11in Reilly Opelka. His path also runs through Taylor Fritz, last year’s beaten finalist, and possibly Novak Djokovic, seeded seventh, who returns from a break after Wimbledon.

Britain’s wider contingent faces tough assignments. Katie Boulter meets 27th seed Marta Kostyuk, Sonay Kartal faces 18th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia, Cameron Norrie plays American shotmaker Sebastian Korda, and Jacob Fearnley draws the experienced Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut.

With Raducanu hunting redemption, Draper eyeing a comeback and the world’s top names jostling for supremacy, the US Open promises a fortnight of gripping battles – and potentially career-defining moments for Britain’s stars