Emma Raducanu has been handed a choppy path to a second US Open final, with the British No 1 on course for a possible third meeting with world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka in as many months should she reach the quarter-finals.
Before that, Raducanu will have to overturn two top-ten players in Elena Rybakina and Jasmine Paolini, both of whom are in red-hot form coming into Flushing Meadows.
Rybakina reached the semi-finals in the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open last week, while Italian star Paolini reached the final in Ohio and looks someway back to the form which won her the Italian Open in May.
Some small comfort to Raducanu – who has enjoyed a promising hard-court swing ahead of the tournament – might be a chance to improve upon her personal record at the tournament where she made her name.
The 22-year-old has failed to get past the first round since her miraculous win in 2021, but could have a strong opportunity to do so as she opens her campaign against a qualifier.
Fellow British No 1 has also landed in the same quarter of the draw as his sport’s highest-ranked player, with the number-five seed on course for a meeting with his friend – and opponent in last year’s landmark semi-final – Jannik Sinner awaiting him should he make the last eight.
Emma Raducanu faces a tough test to reach the last eight at this year’s US Open in New York
Number-five seed Jack Draper will have an easier time of it against lower ranked opponents
But before that, Draper should have a decidedly easier navigating the draw than Raducanu, with clay-court specialist Lorenzo Musetti his highest-ranked opponent in the build-up.
The Italian has had a torrid time on the American hard courts this summer, failing to make it past the first round in Cincinnati and Washington and knocked out in the second in Toronto.
Draper will begin his travails against a qualifier before facing either Zizou Bergs or Tseng Chun-Hsin – both of whom Draper has beaten in their only meetings to date.
Elsewhere in the draw, Jacob Fearnley will play Roberto Bautista Agut and Cameron Norrie begins his campaign against home favourite Sebastian Korda.
Katie Boulter has been handed an opening test against No 27 seed Marta Kostyuk, and Sonay Kartal will face the 18th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia – should she win, her next match would see her clash with French Open fairytale semi-finalist Lois Boisson.
Some British hopefuls remain in qualifying too, with Fran Jones, Jodie Burrage, Harriet Dart, Jay Clarke, and Billy Harris all still in contention for spots in the main draw.