Venus Williams drawn against former World No 2 Paula Badosa in the US Open first round… with Coco Gauff to face qualifier as she begins her bid for glory at Flushing Meadows
Venus Williams drawn against former World No 2 Paula Badosa in the US Open first round… with Coco Gauff to face qualifier as she begins her bid for glory at Flushing Meadows
Venus Williams will take on Spain’s Paula Badosa – a former world No 2 – in the first round of the US Open.
The 43-year-old has not reached the second round of her home Grand Slam since 2019 and Williams now faces a tough task to enjoy a prolonged run at Flushing Meadows.
Meanwhile Coco Gauff, the No 6 seed who arrives in New York amid high hopes of glory, will take on a qualifier in round one.
Top seed Iga Swiatek faces Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson while on the men’s side, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz has been drawn against world No 78 Dominik Koepfer of Germany.
His main rival for the crown, Novak Djokovic, will face France’s Alexandre Muller in the first round.
Venus Williams will take on Spain’s Paula Badosa in the first round of this year’s US Open