Fery Drawn Into Tough Opening Match at US Open as Top Seeds Map Out Paths

The latest US Open draw in New York has set the stage for several marquee clashes, most notably a potential showdown between defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and the ever‑present Novak Djokovic. While the two super‑stars are slated to navigate separate sections of the bracket, British hopeful Arthur Fery has been handed a daunting first‑round test against Italy's 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti, a player who reached the quarter‑finals last year.

Alcaraz, returning after a wrist injury that kept him sidelined since April, will open his campaign against Ukraine's Roman Safiullin. If he can get past the Ukrainian, the Spaniard could face a semi‑final opponent in Djokovic, who is chasing an elusive 25th Grand Slam title. Djokovic's opening match pits him against Argentina's world No.

48 Mariano Navone. A win there would set up a second‑round clash with either Matteo Berrettini or the veteran Swiss star Stan Wawrinka, who is playing his final Grand Slam before retirement. The draw outlines potential pathways for both men.

Alcaras's route could see him meeting players such as Brooksby or Faria in round two, followed by Arnaldi or Wu in round three, and then Bublik or Paul in round four before a quarter‑final against one of Shelton, Fils, Lehecka or Norrie. A semi‑final could involve Djokovic, Medvedev, Tiafoe or Nakashima, with a possible final featuring Alexander Zverev, Felix Auger‑Aliassime, Cameron Cobolli, Alex de Minaur or Taylor Fritz. For Djokovic, the projected path includes a second‑round battle with Berrettini or Wawrinka, a third‑round face‑off against Etcheverry or Landaluce, a fourth‑round encounter with Nakashima, Rublev or Michelsen, and then a quarter‑final against Medvedev, Tiafoe, Vacherot or Rinderknech. The semi‑final could see him against Alcaraz, Shelton, Fils or Bublik, with the same possible final lineup as Alcaraz.

Arthur Fery, a Wimbledon semi‑finalist who missed out on a US Open seeding, now faces a formidable opponent in Musetti, who was a quarter‑finalist at the previous edition. Former British player Naomi Broady commented on Sky Sports, noting that while the matchup looks intimidating, Fery's form this year makes his ceiling hard to gauge. She added that Musetti, returning from an injury layoff and having missed the Rome tournament before a brief appearance in Canada, may be a bit rusty, which could make the contest even more intriguing. Broady also weighed in on Alcaraz's opening match, pointing out that Safiullin can be a tricky draw because of his powerful hitting.

She highlighted the added challenge for Alcaraz of playing best‑of‑five sets so soon after his wrist surgery, questioning how well his wrist will hold up under the strain. Other notable British participants include world No. 33 Cameron Norrie, who after a strong showing in Los Cabos and a fourth‑round run in Montreal, will meet 22‑year‑old Luca Van Assche, a French‑born Belgian now ranked seven places below him. Jan Choinski, Britain's No.

3, will face Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, who sits at world No. 71. With world No. 1 Jannik Sinner out injured, the top seed at Flushing Meadows is Wimbledon finalist Alexander Zverev.

He opens against Italy's Lorenzo Sonego. Defending women's champion and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, aiming for a third consecutive US Open title, starts against Colombia's Camila Osorio.

Sabalenka has struggled on the North American hard‑court swing, and a potential quarter‑final opponent could be Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova. American teenage sensation Coco Gauff, seeded fourth after winning the Cincinnati title, will open against Turkish player Zeynep Sonmez. Positioned in the bottom half of the draw, Gauff could meet former US Open finalist Amanda Anisimova in the quarter‑finals.

Katie Boulter begins her run against American wildcard Carol Lee, ranked 143, with Wimbledon finalist Karolina Muchova a possible second‑round foe. Britain also has six players still fighting for a place in the qualifying draw: Fran Jones, Harriet Dart, Heather Watson, Jacob Fearnley, Toby Samuel and Harry Wendelken. The draw also revived a what‑if scenario involving Serena Williams.

When her sister Venus received a wildcard at age 46, the USTA held a reserve spot that would have gone to Serena had she chosen to play singles. Serena ultimately opted to compete only in doubles, allowing the final wildcard to go to American Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion. On Thursday, Venus was drawn against Kenin, while American Jessica Pegula opens against Elena‑Gabriela Ruse, a potential second‑round opponent. Other must‑watch matches include Arthur Fils, the Cincinnati Open champion, taking on two‑time Grand Slam finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Stan Wawrinka, the 2016 US Open champion playing his farewell Grand Slam, facing Matteo Berrettini, the 2021 Wimbledon runner‑up.

Broady remarked that Berrettini's powerful serve could give him a slight edge on grass, but the match promises to be compelling on hard courts as well. The US Open coverage will be live on Sky Sports starting August 30, with streaming options available on NOW and the Sky Sports app, offering contract‑free viewing.

Fans can also catch the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from September 25‑27, broadcast live on Sky Sports.