Maria Sharapova has been drawn to face Simona Halep, the No2 seed, in the pick of the first-round ties at the US Open, which begins on Monday.
The Russian was handed a wildcard to the grand slam by the United States Tennis Association following her return from a 15-month suspension for taking the banned drug meldonium.
Sharapova’s appearance at Flushing Meadows will be her first major tournament since the Australian Open in January 2016, when she tested positive for the drug. She was denied a wildcard to this year’s French Open and pulled out of Wimbledon qualifying through injury.
Sharapova has won all six of her matches against the Romanian Halep, who was runner-up at Roland Garros early this year.
“That’s the one player everybody wanted to see where she would land... no top seed wanted to draw Maria Sharapova [in the] first round,” former US Fed Cup captain Mary Joe Fernandez said. “I don’t think Maria’s going to be intimidated, because I don’t think anyone intimidates her.”
Defending champion Angelique Kerber added: “It’s an exciting match. I mean, for the first round, it’s a tough match for both of them.”
Meanwhile, Andy Murray will face the aptly-named American Tennys Sandgren, the world No104, in the first round of the men’s draw.
