Draper starts US Open campaign against qualifier

Jack Draper is ranked fifth in the world after a impressive past 18 months

British mens number one Jack Draper has been handed a US Open first-round match against a still-to-be-determined qualifier as he looks to eclipse last years breakout Grand Slam run in New York.

Draper, 23, lost to eventual champion Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals - and the fifth seed may have to face the Italian world number one again in this years quarter-finals.

Emma Raducanu, who is Britains leading womens player, will also begin against a qualifier as she returns once again to the scene of her unforgettable title triumph in 2021.

Raducanu, 22, could come up against 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, who she recently played doubles with in Washington, in the third round.

Four other Britons have earned direct entry to the singles draws through their ranking.

Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal have both been drawn against seeded players - Ukraines Marta Kostyuk and Brazils Beatriz Haddad Maia respectively - in their first-round matches.

Unseeded Cameron Norrie has been paired with another dangerous floater in American Sebastian Korda, while Jacob Fearnley faces Spanish veteran Roberto Bautista Agut.

The singles of the US Open, which is played on a hard court in New York, begin on Sunday after being moved forward from its traditional Monday start.

More to follow.

Womens singles:

Aryna Sabalenka [1] v Rebeka Masarova (Swi)

Barbora Krejcikova (Cze) v Victoria Mboko [22] (Can)

Venus Williams (US) v Karolina Muchova (Cze) [11]

Petra Kvitova (Cze) v Diane Parry (Fra)

Ajla Tomljanovic (Aus) v Coco Gauff (US) [3]

Amanda Anisimova (US) [8] v Kimberley Birrell (Aus)

Emiliana Arango (Col) v Iga Swiatek (Pol) [2]

Mens singles

Jannik Sinner (Ita) [1] v Vit Kopriva (Cze)