The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Czech no mate of Murray’s
Scot drawn with Rosol for first time since ill-tempered Munich match
Andy Murray will renew an old rivalry with Lukas Rosol after drawing the Czech in the first round of the US Open.
Murray beat Rosol in a badtempered match at the Munich Open last year, during which the Scot told his opponent: “No one likes you on the tour, everyone hates you.”
Seeded second in New York, Murray is also placed in the same half as world number three Stan Wawrinka and could meet the Swiss in the semi-finals.
Fellow Britons Aljaz Bedene and Kyle Edmund were both handed tough opponents, with Bedene up against Australian firebrand Nick Kyrgios and Edmund facing experienced Frenchman Richard Gasquet.
Dan Evans will have been pleased with his pick, however. He plays American wildcard Rajeev Ram and should fancy his chances of getting through.
Novak Djokovic, the champion at four of the last five major tournaments but who endured surprise early exits both at Wimbledon and in the Olympics in Brazil, plays Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz. The Serb revealed yesterday he is struggling with a wrist injury
In the women’s draw, British number one Johanna Konta, now ranked 14th in the world, was drawn against American doubles specialist Bethanie Mattek-Sands.
Mattek-Sands won both the Australian and French Open women’s doubles titles last year but her achievements are less noteworthy in singles, having never gone past the fourth round of a major tournament.
Britain’s Heather Watson and Naomi Broady will have to wait to find out their first- round opponents after they were both pitted against qualifiers.
Laura Robson could also join her compatriots in the main draw if she beats Germany’s Tatjana Maria in the final round of qualifying.
Serena Williams can overtake Steffi Graf’s Open era record of 22 grand slam titles if she triumphs at Flushing Meadows. The American has been handed a tricky opening tie against Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova.
“Novak Djokovic plays Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz”