Murray to face Nishioka in Slam comeback

ANDY MURRAY will play Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka in the first round of the US Open, while Jo Konta faces a Battle of Britain with Heather Watson.

Three-times Major champion Murray, left, will be making his first Grand Slam singles appearance since the 2019 Australian Open against the world No48.

The winner is scheduled to play No15 seed Felix AugerAliassime, and British No1 Dan Evans could lie in wait in the third round. The No23 seed will face Brazilian world No113 Thiago Seyboth Wild. Kyle Edmund’s reward for beating world No51 Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan will be a probable second-round meeting with Novak Djokovic. The world No1 is hot favourite in the absence of Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer when the tournament starts on Monday.

The only two British women in the field have been drawn together, with Konta seeking a fourth consecutive win over Watson.

The British No1 will play her delayed semi-final against former world No1 Victoria Azarenka at the Western & Southern Open in New York today. Konta, a three-time Grand Slam semi-finalist, was again impressive in beating Greece’s Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-3. Her new coach Thomas Hogstedt, who used to work with Maria Sharapova, said: “She’s close to getting to the next level.”

❑AMERICAN doubles legends Mike and Bob Bryan have retired. ❑DAVID MERCER, the BBC commentator and former tennis umpire, has died aged 70.