Fery handed nightmare opener at US Open as top stars learn opponents

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic in the same half of the US Open draw as Britain's Arthur Fery is handed a nightmare opening clash; watch the US Open from August 30 live on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic are on for a US Open collision course following Thursday's draw in New York, while Britain's Arthur Fery has been handed a nightmare opening-round clash against Italian 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti.

Defending champion Alcaraz will open his campaign against Roman Safiullin with a potential semi-final meeting with history-chasing Novak Djokovic.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion will face world No 44 Mariano Navone in the first round with the winner to face Matteo Berrettini or Stan Wawrinka, who is playing in his final Grand Slam before retiring.

R1 - Safiullin R2 - Brooksby/Faria R3 - Arnaldi/Wu R4 - Bublik/Paul QF - Shelton/Fils/Lehecka/Norrie SF - Djokovic/Medvedev/Tiafoe/Nakashima F - Zverev/Auger-Aliassime/Cobolli/De Minaur/Fritz

R1 - Navone R2 - Berrettini/Wawrinka R3 - Etcheverry/Landaluce R4 - Nakashima/Rublev/Michelsen QF - Medvedev/Tiafoe/Vacherot/Rinderknech SF - Alcaraz/Shelton/Fils/Bublik F - Zverev/Auger-Aliassime/Cobolli/De Minaur/Fritz

Wimbledon semi-finalist Fery missed out on a US Open seeding and has paid the price with a daunting first-round meeting against last year's quarter-finalist Musetti.

Fellow Brit Cameron Norrie tackles Belgian-born French player Luca Van Assche, while Jan Choinski takes on Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp.

World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who is chasing a hat-trick of US Open titles, starts against Colombian star Camila Osorio.

Katie Boulter begins her campaign against American wild card Carol Lee, while there are six other Brits chasing a main draw spot in qualifying.

The US Open is live on Sky Sports from August 30. Stream tennis with no contract on NOW and the Sky Sports App . You can also watch the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from 25-27 September live on Sky Sports.