Emma Raducanu will head into this year’s US Open brimming with confidence, arguably in the best form of her life.
After all, she has found consistency in her quality and fitness at last after years of heartbreak, constantly suffering setbacks despite her obvious talent.
And, it was that talent which carried her to the most unlikely triumphs in 2021 when she won this title, the first qualifier in Open Era history to do so.
Emma Raducanu will not be expected to repeat that feat, but after a strong year where the major draws have not been kind to her, there was hope that she might at least be afforded a more favourable section this time around.
Sadly, that has once again not proved to be true.
Emma Raducanu’s projected run to the US Open fourth round
Raducanu has now learned exactly the path she will have to take if she is to go deep in the US Open this year, starting off in perfect fashion.
The 22-year-old should be able to get her campaign up and running with a win against a qualifier, before then facing the winner of the match between Veronika Kudermetova and another qualifier.
The difficulty ramps up quickly, but given her current form, she should fear no one.
If the British number one is to then make it into the third round, it is expected that a scarily in-form Elena Rybakina will await.
It marks a tough two fixtures from her opening three, with Jasmine Paolini projected to be waiting in the fourth round.
Should Raducanu somehow bypass all these stars, who else but Aryna Sabalenka has once again found herself in her quarter of the draw?
It very nearly mirrors Raducanu’s nightmare draw at Wimbledon, frustratingly enough.
Emma Raducanu once again handed a tough draw at a Grand Slam
Raducanu has been handed some horrific draws at the Grand Slam level this year, but this one might just top them all.
After all, not only is she in Sabalenka’s quarter, but she will have to face the woman who just crushed the Belarusian in Cincinnati, Rybakina, in the third round.
Kudermetova is no slouch either, having just reached the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Open, capping off a horrific start to the US Open for Raducanu.
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images
However, as mentioned earlier, she should fear no one.
That still does not excuse yet another nightmare draw for the former champion.