Raducanu has received one of her toughest draws yet, as she will come up against former world No 1 and 73-time title winner Williams at the Western and Southern Open. The first – and likely last – meeting between the US Open champion and legend of the sport is the most anticipated opening round of the Cincinnati tournament, made even more special given the American’s impending retirement.
And the match will receive the blockbuster treatment it deserves, with Western and Southern Open organisers already confirming that the world No 10 will face the 40-year-old in Monday’s night session. Following the draw, the tournament said the match-ups were “highlighted by 23-time Major champion, Serena Williams taking on 2021 US Open winner Emma Raducanu in a match that is scheduled for Monday night.”
While the match is a treat for the crowds in Cincinnati, British fans excited to cheer the 19-year-old on against Williams will have to stay up late to watch the contest. With Cincinnati’s night session play beginning at 7pm local time, the match won’t start until 12am on Tuesday in the UK.
JUST IN: Rafael Nadal in gruelling training regime ahead of injury return