Fery Faces Grueling First-Round Test at US Open as Top Contenders Map Their Paths

The latest US Open draw in New York has set the stage for a series of high‑stakes match‑ups, with two of the sport’s biggest names, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, already on a potential collision course. Meanwhile, British hopeful Arthur Fery has drawn a daunting opening‑round opponent in Italy’s 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti, turning his debut into a true nightmare encounter. Alcaraz, the defending champion, will kick off his campaign against Ukraine’s Roman Safiullin. If he can navigate that first‑round hurdle, the Spaniard could find himself on a semi‑final pathway that pits him against the ever‑present Djokovic, who is chasing an elusive 25th Grand Slam title.

This will be Alcaraz’s first appearance at Flushing Meadows since recovering from a right‑wrist injury sustained in April, and the physical demands of a best‑of‑five‑sets format will be a critical test for his rehabilitated wrist. Djokovic’s opening match pits him against Argentina’s world No. 48 Mariano Navone. A victory there would set up a second‑round clash with either Matteo Berrettini or the veteran Stan Wawrinka, who is playing his final Grand Slam before retirement.

The draw outlines a potential route for the Serbian: after Navone, he could meet Berrettini or Wawrinka, then possibly face Etcheverry or Landaluce in the third round, followed by a quarter‑final against either Nakashima, Rublev or Michelsen, and a semi‑final that might feature Medvedev, Tiafoe, Vacherot or Rinderknech before a possible final showdown with the likes of Zverev, Auger‑Aliassime, Cobolli, De Minaur or Fritz. Fery’s situation is particularly stark.

The Wimbledon semi‑finalist missed out on a US Open seeding, leaving him vulnerable to a first‑round battle with Musetti, who was a quarter‑finalist last year. Former British player Naomi Broady shared her thoughts on Sky Sports, noting that while Musetti is returning from injury and has missed the Rome tournament, his recent appearance in Canada suggests he may be a bit rusty.

"It’s going to be an interesting match," Broady said, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding Musetti’s form. Broady also weighed in on Alcaraz’s draw, pointing out that Safiullin’s powerful groundstrokes could pose a serious challenge for a player still nursing a wrist.

"The big test for Alcaraz coming back is that it’s a best of five sets which is going to be a big test on the wrist and Safiullin hits the ball massive. How’s the wrist going to hold up? That’s the question mark around Carlos," she remarked.

Other notable entries include world No. 33 Cameron Norrie, who will face 22‑year‑old Luca Van Assche, a Belgian‑born Frenchman ranked seven places below him. British No.

3 Jan Choinski draws Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, currently positioned at world No. 71. In the absence of the injured world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, Wimbledon finalist Alexander Zverev assumes the top seed for the men’s draw and opens against Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego.

On the women’s side, defending champion and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, aiming for a third consecutive US Open title, meets Colombia’s Camila Osorio in the first round. Sabalenka has struggled during the North American hard‑court swing, and a quarter‑final encounter with Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova could be on the horizon. Fourth‑seeded Coco Gauff, fresh off her Cincinnati title, faces Turkish player Zeynep Sonmez and is placed in the bottom half of the draw, where a potential quarter‑final showdown with Amanda Anisimova awaits.

British contender Katie Boulter opens against American wild‑card Carol Lee, ranked 143, with a possible second‑round clash against Wimbledon finalist and US Open mixed‑doubles champion Karolina Muchova. Six other British players—Fran Jones, Harriet Dart, Heather Watson, Jacob Fearnley, Toby Samuel and Harry Wendelken—are still fighting for a spot through the qualifying rounds. The draw also revived a what‑could‑have‑been scenario involving Serena Williams. When her sister Venus received a wild‑card at age 46, the USTA reserved an extra spot that would have gone to Serena had she chosen to compete in the singles draw for the first time since 2022.

Instead, Serena elected to play only doubles, and the remaining wild‑card was awarded to American Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion. Consequently, Venus Williams and Kenin were paired against each other, while American Jessica Pegula opens against Elena‑Gabriela Ruse, a potential second‑round opponent.

Among the marquee matches, Cincinnati champion Arthur Fils will take on two‑time Grand Slam finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas, promising a clash of contrasting styles. Meanwhile, Stan Wawrinka, the 2016 US Open champion making a farewell appearance, faces Matteo Berrettini, the 2021 Wimbledon runner‑up who has now reached back‑to‑back majors. Broady observed, "Berrettini might have had the slight advantage on the grass with his massive serve.

It’s going to be an interesting match." The US Open coverage will be live on Sky Sports from August 30, with streaming options available on NOW and the Sky Sports app, offering contract‑free viewing. Fans can also look forward to the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from September 25‑27, which will be broadcast on Sky Sports as well.