US Open wild card Murray will face Japan’s Nishioka

Andy Murray will take on rising Japanese player Yoshihito Nishioka in the first round of the US Open after being given a wild card in New York.

The 2012 champion is set to play in his first grand slam event since his opening-round defeat to Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut at the Australian Open in January 2019, after which he underwent an operation to resurface his hip.

Murray, ranked 134 in the world, made a brief comeback towards the end of last year and won the European Open before further injury problems blighted his campaign.

The 33-year-old returned to action last week at the Western & Southern Open, claiming victories over American Frances Tiafoe and world No 7 Alexander Zverev – his first top-10 win in three years – before falling to Milos Raonic in the last 16.

If Murray prevails against Nishioka, he could face 15th-seed Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Kyle Edmund has been drawn against Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik, with the possibility of a difficult second round against top seed Novak Djokovic.

Djokovic will take on Damir Dzumhur in his opening-round match.

Britain’s Dan Evans was drawn against young Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild, while Cameron Norrie faces ninth-seed Argentinian Diego Schwartzman

In the women’s draw, Johanna Konta, seeded ninth, will be involved in an all-British tie with Heather Watson in the first round.

Serena Williams, who is seeded third, is up against American Kristie Ahn.