Emma Raducanu has been handed a tough draw for the Cincinnati Open as she looks to secure a seeding for the US Open later this month.
The 22-year-old is heading to the Ohio-based tournament for the first time since 2022, with that showing resulting in a round-of-16 loss to Jessica Pegula.
Raducanu has been in good form of late after reaching the semi-finals in Washington and the third round in Montreal.
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The Briton is aiming to gain seeding for the US Open, which she won in 2021, but to do so, she needs to be in the top 32 players in the world.
Emma Raducanu has been given a horror draw for the Cincinnati Open
|Getty
She currently sits 33rd, but faces an uphill challenge to break into the seeding places, with her Cincinnati draw now revealed.
Should she beat her first-round opponent, Raducanu will have to face world number one Aryna Sabalenka.
For her first match, she will face either Olga Danilovic or fellow Briton Katie Boulter after the 22-year-old was given a bye in the first round.
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If she makes it through that task, she will be facing a repeat of Wimbledon third round where she took on Sabalenka and ultimately lost out.
In their previous meeting in July, the world number obe edged out the 22-year-old 7-6, 6-4 at the All England Club.
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Emma Raducanu has been performing well recently moving her up to 33rd in the rankings
|Reuters
Liudmila Samsonova could await the British number one if she makes it past Sabalenka in the fourth round. Madison Keys or Elena Rybakina could also be met in the quarter-finals.
As she currently sits in 33rd, the Ohio courts will prove crucial for Raducanu in her hopes of gaining her seeding for the US Open, which would see her avoiding the higher-ranked opponents in the early rounds.
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However, if she exits the tournament early, the dreams of being seeded for the 22-year-old may be over, and the hopes of replicating her 2021 success will become much harder for the Briton.
Since her blockbuster win back in 2021, the New York courts have not been kind to Raducanu, as she was knocked out in her opening match of her defence in 2022, missed the 2023 US Open through injury, and was beaten again in her opening match last year.
The Briton will have an uphill battle to gain seeding for the US Open
|PA
Raducanu will be hoping for success in Ohio as she fights to keep her British numner one status from Katie Boulter who has been on her tail all year, as the pair have swapped back and forth.
Raducanu’s first match will be on Saturday as she looks to gain the ranking needed for her US Open seeding.