Raducanu v Shibahara live: US Open latest score and updates as British No 1 begins campaign

After Aryna Sabalenka’s Wimbledon semi-final defeat to Amanda Anisimova last month, the world No 1 walked into the media theatre determined not to make the same mistake. Sabalenka laughed as she sat down, telling the room: “You’re not going to see that Roland Garros press conference, so anyone who was waiting for that, you can leave right now!”

Sabalenka arrives at the US Open without winning a grand slam title this season, the same as 124 other players in the women’s singles draw, the majority of whom would trade their results for Sabalenka’s in an instant.

It remains to be seen whether this will be Venus Williams’ final appearance in the draw here, but she has no intention of hanging up her racket any time soon.

“I think I’ll always play tennis,” she said. “It’s in my DNA. So it doesn’t matter if it’s now or 30 years from now, God willing, I’ll be here, we’ll all be here, we’ll all be hitting balls.

“Maybe I’ll come back to watch. Maybe I’ll be saying I did it better, and it won’t be true.

“But, in any case, tennis will always be one of the most important parts of my life.”

Venus Williams said she is more excited than ever to play at the US Open ahead of her return to grand slam tennis.

The American celebrated her 45th birthday in June and had not played at a major tournament since Flushing Meadows two years ago.

“Super thrilling to be back,” said Williams, who will take on 11th seed Karolina Muchova on Monday.

“It does not get old, it just gets more exciting. And I’m looking forward to Monday night.

“I want to be my best and that’s the expectation I have for myself, to get the best out of me, and that’s all any player can ask for.

“I haven’t played as much as the other players, so it’s a different challenge when you’re dealing with that. So I’m just trying to have fun, stay relaxed, and be my personal best.”

This year’s US Open will offer what is claimed to be “the largest purse in tennis history” after a 20 per cent increase in total prize money.

The winner of the men’s and women’s singles will take home $5m each, in what is the biggest single pay-out among the four grand slams.

It’s an increase of 39 per cent from last year, when Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka were awarded $3.6m.

“Spectacular awaits” was the tagline adorning every advertising hoarding inside Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong for this week’s revamped US Open mixed doubles tournament. The final verdict may be slightly more lukewarm.

Wednesday night’s result was victory for the defending champions and only actual mixed doubles team, Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori. It was also a win both for doubles specialists, who face an uphill battle even to be taken seriously, and for tennis purists everywhere.

Ben Shelton (6) vs Ignacio Buse

Aryna Sabalenka (1) vs Rebeka Masarova

Novak Djokovic (7) vs Learner Tien

Jessica Pegula (4) vs Mayar Sherif

Emma Raducanu vs Ena Shibahara

Taylor Fritz (4) vs Emilio Nava

Jasmine Paolini vs Destanee Aiava

Daniil Medvedev (13) vs Benjamin Bonzi

Emma Raducanu will be among the first players in action on Sunday 24 August, and will open play on Louis Armstrong Stadium at 11am local time (4pm UK time).

Emma Raducanu goes in search of her first US Open win since famously winning the title as an 18-year-old qualifier four years ago.

The British No 1 will play qualifier Ena Shibahara, ranked 130th in the world, in her first-round match in New York.

Raducanu has yet to get through the opening round at the US Open in two attempts since her sensational 2021 triumph.

But she has shown decent form coming into the final grand slam of the year, narrowly missing out on a seeded spot for the draw, and reached the third round at the Australian Open and Wimbledon this season.

Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of the US Open.

We’ve got some action from the women’s singles this afternoon as Emma Raducanu kicks off her campaign against qualifier Ena Shibahara.

Raducanu is hoping to perform well at a tournament she won in 2021 and her form is strong this season.

She enjoys hard courts and a good run at the final major of the year will build her confidence heading into the rest of the season.

We’ll have all the latest updates and build-up throughout the afternoon.