EMMA IN BATTLE OF BRITAIN DUEL

Raducanu faces Draper in mixed doubles

- By Yasmin Syed

BRITISH No.1s Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper will go head-to-head for the first time today.

Raducanu has formed a blockbuster US Open pairing with five-times Grand Slam winner Carlos Alcaraz, for the revamped mixed doubles at Flushing Meadows.

The two former US Open singles champions will face Draper and his partner, world No.4 Jessica Pegula, in the first round on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.

World No.5 Draper will be making his first appearance since Wimbledon, after an arm injury kept him out of the Masters 1000 events in Canada and Cincinnati.

Draper, 23, initially signed up for the US Open mixed doubles with Qinwen Zheng and then with Paula Badosa, but both pulled out of the tournament through injury.