The Sports Lowdown For All Your News and OpinionsAndy Murray has been dealt a potentially tough opening match at the US Open, as the Brit will begin his quest for a fourth grand slam title against the dangerous Lukas Rosol.
The Czech, who is a streaky hard-hitting player and difficult to beat on his day, is widely known for his shock five set win over Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2012.
However, should Murray progress through, the former champion could meet Juan Monaco, Gilles Simon and Ivo Karlovic before possibly facing Feliciano Lopez in the fourth round and Kei Nishikori in the quarter-finals. Stan Wawrinka or the resurgent Juan Martin Del Potro both lurk as a potential semifinal opponent for Murray, but if the Brit is able to reach the final, he could meet Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal for the title.
Wawrinka though faces a tough opener against Fernando Verdasco and is also projected to meet Nick Kyrgios in the fourth round and Dominic Thiem in the quarterfinals.
As for the other Brits in their respective first round matches, Kyle Edmund takes on Richard Gasquet and Dan Evans will meet Rajeev Ram, whilst Laura Robson has an all-British encounter with Naomi Broady. In addition, Aljaz Bedene was given a difficult opening match against Nick Kyrgios, and Johanna Konta will get her campaign underway against Bethanie Mattek-Sands. Heather Watson plays a qualifier, Richel Hogenkamp.
Defending men’s singles champion Novak Djokovic, who is on the opposite side of the draw to Murray, opens his account against Jerzy Janowicz and the world number one’s section of the draw includes Jiri Vesely, Mikhail Youzhny and John Isner, with Richard Gasquet a likely fourth round opponent. If the Serbian advances, he may need to overcome Jo Wilfried Tsonga or Marin Cilic in the quarterfinals and Rafael Nadal in a blockbuster semifinal in order to reach the championship match.
Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal will play Denis Istomin in his first round match, and the two time US Open champion has been grouped in the same bracket as Andreas Seppi, Thomaz Bellucci, Julien Benneteau and Lucas Pouille. Should Nadal progress further, he could face fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut in the fourth round and Milos Raonic in the quarterfinals, before potentially booking a semifinal clash against Djokovic.
On the women’s side, Serena Williams will open her bid for a 23rd grand slam title against Ekaterina Makarova, but the American may have to navigate past Ana Ivanovic, Samantha Stosur and Simona Halep if she is to progress through to the semi-finals. Venus Williams or Agnieszka Radwanska could lie in wait for the world number one in the last four but if the Wimbledon champion does go on to reach the final, Serena Williams may face either Angelique Kerber or Garbine Muguruza, who are both placed on the opposite side of the draw.
However, along with Roger Federer and Tomas Berdych, Sloane Stephens has also decided to pull out of this year’s event, due to injury.
