Venus Williams draws former world No. 2 Paula Badosa in the first round of the US Open… with Coco Gauff in the qualifier as she begins her bid for glory at Flushing Meadows
Venus Williams will compete in the first round of the US Open against the Spanish Paula Badosa, former number 2 in the world.
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 longer run at Flushing Meadows.
Meanwhile, Coco Gauff, the No. 6 seed who arrives in New York with high hopes of glory, will play a qualifier in the first round.
Top seed Iga Swiatek takes on Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson, while the men’s defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is drawn against World No. 78 Dominik Koepfer of Germany.
His main rival for the crown, Novak Djokovic, will face Frenchman Alexandre Müller in the first round.
Alcaraz could take on Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals in what would be a delightful repeat of last year’s epic clash when they shared an epic at Arthur Ashe Stadium late in the night.
Venus Williams will face the Spanish Paula Badosa in the first round of this year’s US Open