Emma Raducanu to Face Sofia Kenin in US Open Return

Emma Raducanu will face fellow Grand Slam winner Sofia Kenin in her first US Open appearance in two years. Raducanu, who captured the US Open title as a teenage qualifier in 2021 became the first British woman in 44 years to win a major singles title. However, she exited in the first round in 2022 and missed last year’s tournament due to wrist and ankle surgeries. Now, at 21, Emma Raducanu faces the challenge of a first-round match against Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion and French Open finalist.

In other British entries, Katie Boulter the current British women’s number one and 31st seed will open against a yet-to-be-determined qualifier while Harriet Dart will face France’s Chloe Paquet. On the men’s side, Jack Draper will take on China’s Zhang Zhizhen with Carlos Alcaraz potentially waiting in the third round. Dan Evans, the only other British man directly in the main draw faces a tough opener against Russia’s 23rd seed, Karen Khachanov.

Jan Choinski, who reached the main draw for the first time, secured his spot with a hard-fought victory over American Maxime Cressy. However, Sonay Kartal, Lily Miyazaki and Billy Harris all fell short in the final round of qualifying. Among the title contenders, Novak Djokovic begins his campaign for a record 25th Grand Slam title against a qualifier while women’s champion Coco Gauff opens against France’s Varvara Gracheva.

World number one Jannik Sinner, French Open and Wimbledon champion Alcaraz and former US Open winner Daniil Medvedev all share the same half of the men’s draw. In the women’s draw, top seed Iga Swiatek and in-form second seed Aryna Sabalenka will both begin against qualifiers.