Britain’s Emma Raducanu has been handed a tough start against France’s Alize Cornet when she returns to New York to defend her US Open title.
Raducanu, seeded 11th, stunned the world last year by winning the major as a little known 18-year-old qualifier.
Cornet, ranked 37th in the world, is an experienced and talented player with some notable results at the majors.
Serena Williams will play Danka Kovinic as she begins what is set to be the final tournament of her career.
The American great, who turns 41 next month, could face second seed Anett Kontaveit in the second round if she beats the Montenegrin.
However, 21-time major champion Novak Djokovic is not in the men’s singles draw after pulling out of the tournament earlier on Thursday.
Djokovic, 35, is unvaccinated against Covid-19 and the United States will not allow visitors who have not had the jab into the country.
The US Open main draw starts on Monday at Flushing Meadows in New York.
- What are the highlights of the men’s draw?
British men’s number one Cameron Norrie is seeded seventh and plays Frenchman Benoit Paire, while 2012 champion Andy Murray starts against Argentine 24th seed Francisco Cerundolo.
Norrie, who reached the Wimbledon semi-finals last month, cannot face a higher-ranked opponent until the quarter-finals as a result of his elevated seeding.
The 26-year-old left-hander is projected to play Spain’s 22-time major winner Rafael Nadal, who is coming back from an abdominal injury and starts against Australian wildcard Rinky Hijikata, in the last eight.
Kyle Edmund, the former British number one who is still at the start of a comeback after almost two years out with a knee injury, has been drawn against Norwegian fifth seed Casper Ruud.
One of the most eye-catching first-round matches in the men’s draw pits Australia’s Nick Kyrgios against his doubles partner and good friend Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Defending men’s champion Daniil Medvedev starts his bid to retain the trophy against American world number 110 Stefan Kozlov.
- What are the other highlights of the women’s draw?
Two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka, now ranked 44th in the world, plays American 19th seed Danielle Collins in one of the standout first-round matches.
Osaka has lacked form and fitness over the past couple of years, also having taken time away from the sport to focus on her mental health, but was always likely to be a tricky unseeded floater in the draw.
Poland’s world number one Iga Swiatek begins her quest for a third major title against Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, with 2017 champion Sloane Stephens possibly awaiting her in the second round.
- What about the other Britons?
Jack Draper is playing in the Winston-Salem Open quarter-finals later on Thursday
Seven British players have direct entry into the singles draws, with Dan Evans, Jack Draper and Harriet Dart joining Raducanu, Norrie, Murray and Edmund.
Evans, seeded 20th, plays Czech world number 68 Jiri Vesely in his opening match.
Draper, 20, is making his debut in the main draw of an overseas major after moving to the verge of the world’s top 50.
The left-hander meets Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori, who was impressive when he beat Draper in straight sets at Queen’s earlier this year.
Dart broke into the world’s top 100 for the first time earlier this year and her ranking means she enters the US Open for the first time without needing to go through qualifying.
The 26-year-old has been drawn against Russian 10th seed Daria Kasatkina, who recently criticised her country’s attitude to homosexuality after coming out as gay.
Source: BBC