Emma Raducanu to play Sofia Kenin in US Open first round

Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, has drawn a challenging path as she aims for her first victory in New York since her historic win. The 21-year-old British player will face former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in the first round. Should Raducanu advance, she is likely to encounter sixth seed Jessica Pegula in the second round, followed by a potential all-British clash against Katie Boulter in the third round. Boulter, seeded 31st, has a more favorable draw, starting against a qualifier. In addition to Raducanu, fellow British player Jack Draper, seeded 25th, is looking to overcome recent controversies surrounding accusations of cheating. He will face Zhizhen Zhang in the first round, and if successful, could meet world number one Carlos Alcaraz in the third round. Draper is the sole British representative in the men's draw following Andy Murray's retirement, adding pressure to his performance. The tournament also features world number one Jannik Sinner, who recently avoided a doping ban despite two positive tests earlier this year. Sinner's case was dismissed after he explained the substance entered his system inadvertently. Meanwhile, defending champion Novak Djokovic and rising star Alcaraz are both set to meet qualifiers in their opening matches, setting the stage for a potential final showdown. The women's draw includes defending champion Coco Gauff, who begins her title defense against Varvara Gracheva, while Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka also face qualifiers. A highly anticipated match between former grand slam champions Naomi Osaka and Jelena Ostapenko adds to the excitement of the tournament.