Cameron Norrie, Katie Boulter and the other Brits to watch at the 2023 US Open
The final tennis grand slam of the year, the US Open, is due to get under way in New York on Monday.
Surprise 2021 women’s champion Emma Raducanu remains sidelined, but six British players were included in the main singles draws by ranking.
Here, the PA news agency looks at the UK contingent.
Cameron Norrie
After a brilliant start to the season, Norrie has found himself in something of a trough.
The solidity that has formed the basis of his superb last two seasons is no longer quite there and the 27-year-old arrives in New York having lost his last four matches dating back to the first round of Wimbledon.
He remains a top-20 player and possesses huge self belief but he will have his work cut out to match last year’s run to the fourth round.
The 16th seed has been drawn to meet Russian Alexander Shevchenko in round one.
Dan Evans
It has also been a tricky last few months for Evans, who has lost his opening match in eight of his last nine tour-level events.
The one time he made it through, though, in Washington earlier this month, he went on to claim the biggest title of his career.
The 33-year-old is seeded 26th, plays Colombian Daniel Galan first, and has a very good record at Flushing Meadows, having reached the third round four times and the fourth round once.
Andy Murray
The 36-year-old is having his best season since hip surgery and has proved consistently that he can compete against the world’s best again, although getting over the line has been another matter.
His agonising second-round loss against Stefanos Tsitsipas at Wimbledon clearly hurt but the desire to be a factor once again on the biggest stage still burns bright.
An untimely abdominal injury means it is touch and go whether he takes his place at the US Open and plays his first round match with Corentin Moutet.
Jack Draper
When Draper stunned Felix Auger-Aliassime to reach the third round at Flushing Meadows last year, it seemed his career was about to take off, but frustratingly injuries have been a constant thorn since and his ranking has dropped back outside the top 100.
There is no doubt it will climb quickly again if the powerful 21-year-old, who meets Moldovan Radu Albot in the first round, can just stay fit for a period of time.
A shoulder injury suffered at the French Open that ruled him out of the grass court season was his latest issue, however, and he retired after losing the first set in the second round of the Winston-Salem Open on Tuesday, which is a concern. A dangerous floater in the draw, if he is fully fit.
Katie Boulter
After the low of no direct British entrants for the women’s singles at the French Open and Wimbledon, it is good to see Boulter and Jodie Burrage in the main draw by right.
Boulter, who faces Diane Parry in round one, has propelled herself to a career-high ranking of 60 after four years spent trying to make it back into the top 100 after injury.
The 27-year-old shone on grass, winning her first WTA Tour title in Nottingham and reaching the third round at Wimbledon. She qualified in New York in 2021 but is yet to win a main draw match.
Jodie Burrage
Beaten by Boulter in the final in Nottingham, Burrage has joined her in the top 100 and in the main draw at Flushing Meadows, where she will make her debut on an overseas grand slam.
It has been a breakthrough season for the 24-year-old, who is another player to have struggled with injuries during her career.
Burrage has proved her competitive mettle in 2023 with several narrow victories, beating 10 top-100 opponents along the way. She faces Anna Blinkova first.
PA