ANYONE FOR TENNYS? MURRAY’S DRAWN HIM!

ANDY MURRAY and Jo Konta were last night handed benign first round draws at the us Open, with the biggest sting reserved for Maria sharapova. Awarded a wildcard for what will be her first Grand slam since last year’s Australian Open, the Russian was paired against second seed simona halep. desperate to kickstart her comeback after a doping violation led to a 15month absence and a succession of injuries, it could hardly have been a worse draw for sharapova, 30. Murray (right), who has not played since limping out of his Wimbledon quarterfinal, has been practising in New York since Monday. The state of his hip is uncertain, but he is due to face appropriately named American Tennys sandgren, world ranked 104 and named after a swedish grandfather. Murray, seeded two, could have a first big test against david Ferrer in the fourth round — although it would be foolish to take anything for granted with the now world No 2 this week. he would avoid either Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal until the final and could meet German Alex Zverev in the semis of the tournament, which starts on Monday. Kyle Edmund is up against Robin haase, while last night Britain’s former us College star Cameron Norrie made it through to the main draw by beating Japan’s Go soeda in the final qualifying round. seventh seeded Konta will face serbia’s world No 77 Aleksandra Krunic in the first round. Konta has played only two tournaments since making the last four of Wimbledon, explaining that she has still played four extra matches since last year and is trying to pace herself. she took several weeks off after Wimbledon and went to see u2 in dublin, where she was invited backstage. Enjoying the perk of her new found celebrity she recounted: ‘it was so nice, Bono kissed my hand and said, “We are so glad you are here, you did so well”. ‘i was like, “Oh my God he knows my name”. i haven’t washed my hand since!’ she lost in Cincinnati to halep in the last eight but has improved with each match. Federer, who pulled out of that event with a stiff back, will face young American Frances Tiafoe while top seed Nadal — back at No 1, but second favourite to the swiss here — faces serb dusan Lajovic.