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Serena Williams Emma Raducanu Cincinnati Open 2022 clash ahead of US Open draw

US OPEN DRAW: Emma Raducanu given nightmare quarter but Serena Williams will fancy her chances


Iga Swiatek and Emma Raducanu have been drawn in the same half of the US Open draw as the Brit attempts to defend her title.

Both, though, have a very tough projected path to the semi-finals in what is unquestionably a stacked half of the women’s US Open draw.

Swiatek will start against Jasmine Paolini but former champion Sloane Stephens is a potential round two opponent. Amanda Anisimova, Sofia Kenin, Jelena Ostapenko, Garbine Muguruza, Petra Kvitova and the in-form Jessica Pegula are all in her quarter though.

Raducanu has a similarly daunting section. She has been handed a very tricky opener against Alize Cornet, and Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, former US Open champions Naomi Osaka and Victoria Azarenka are also potentially in her path. Venus Williams is in that section too, as are top-six seeds Paula Badosa and Aryna Sabalenka.

Serena Williams, meanwhile, will start her final tournament against Danka Kovinic. Should she win that, though, she could run into second seed Anett Kontaveit as early as round two.

She does have a relatively kind section of the draw, though, certainly compared to Emma Raducanu. Ons Jabeur, Karolina Muchova and Leylah Fernandez are all potentially in her path, though.

Simona Halep, Maria Sakkari and Coco Gauff headline the remaining quarter of the US Open draw. Former finalist Madison Keys won’t be underestimated by anyone, though, and neither will 2019 champion Bianca Andreescu.

The US Open gets underway on Monday August 28.

RELATED: Tennishead’s guide to the 2022 US Open – Five American women to watch out for

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Michael Graham, Tennishead.net Editor, has been a professional sports journalist for his whole career and is especially passionate about tennis. He's been the Editor of Tennishead.net for over 5 years and loves watching live tennis by visiting as many tournaments as possible. Michael specialises in writing in-depth features about the ATP & WTA tours.