Murray handed beneficial US Open first-round as unseeded Brit learns powerful route
Andy Murray has realized his destiny on the US Open after narrowly lacking out on being seeded. The former champion at Flushing Meadows has a beneficial opening spherical as he takes on world No 71 Corentin Moutet. But nineteenth seed Grigor Dimitrov and twelfth seed Alexander Zverev are additionally lurking in his part as he bids to achieve the second week. None of the Brits within the singles attracts are going through seeds within the first spherical.
Murray has made it no secret that he needs to have a deep run at a Grand Slam and the US Open is his final probability to just do that in 2023. But it will likely be a troublesome job if the 2012 US Open winner is to make it to the second week of a Major for the primary time in 5 years.
The world No 37 opens his marketing campaign in opposition to Moutet, a primary assembly between the 2. But issues might get troublesome for Murray if he defeats the 24-year-old Frenchman as he might instantly come up in opposition to one of many seeded gamers in Dimitrov.
The No 19 seed faces Alex Molcan within the first spherical, with the winner taking up Murray if the Brit defeats Moutet. And former US Open finalist Zverev can be in Murray’s part of the draw as a possible third-round opponent – his roadblock to creating it into that elusive second week.
If Murray does make it to the fourth spherical, he might face sixth seed Jannik Sinner who’s coming off the again of his maiden Masters title win in Toronto. The pair have been meant to face off on the Canadian Open earlier than the Brit pulled out with an belly pressure. He can be in the identical quarter of the draw as world No 1 and reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Murray is not the one Brit with a beneficial first spherical, as Norrie and Evans profit from being seeded. No 16 seed Norrie opens his marketing campaign in opposition to Alexander Shevchenko whereas Evans, seeded twenty sixth, faces Daniel Galan within the first spherical. Jack Draper will start his US Open in opposition to Radu Albot.
On the ladies’s aspect, Katie Boulter faces France’s Diane Parry within the first spherical however she might have a troublesome check in opposition to seventh seed Caroline Garcia in spherical two. Jodie Burrage takes on Anna Blinkova however, like Boulter, she might have a really powerful second-round match if she makes it there.
The 24-year-old might face world No 2 and Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka in spherical two. Meanwhile, there are some blockbuster first-round matches in each the lads’s and girls’s draw.
Venus Williams has a troublesome opener in opposition to former world No 2 Paula Badosa, although the Spaniard has struggled for type of late as she continues to battle with a again damage. World No 4 Elena Rybakina takes on Marta Kostyuk.
And on the lads’s aspect, 2020 champion Dominic Thiem could have a tough match in opposition to twenty fifth seed Alexander Bublik. World No 7 Stefanos Tsitsipas might be examined within the first spherical as he faces former Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic who’s at present on the comeback path.