US Open draw: Andy Murray faces Nick Kyrgios in tasty starter

Hugely talented young Australian has drawn more attention for his misdemeanours than his tennis in recent weeks

Andy Murray beat Nick Kyrgios in straight sets at both Australian and French Opens earlier this year (EPA)

Andy Murray is never one to look beyond his next match, which might be just as well given the draw the world No 3 was handed at the US Open.

With Stan Wawrinka, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic his potential opponents from the quarter-finals onwards Murray could face a huge challenge if he is to win his third Grand Slam title.

But for the moment his energies will be directed towards a first-round match which will be sure to attract plenty of interest next week.

The 28-year-old Scot’s first opponent will be Nick Kyrgios, the hugely talented young Australian who has drawn more attention for his misdemeanours than his tennis in recent weeks.

He is still counting the cost of his offensive remarks to Wawrinka at the end of their match in Montreal earlier this month. In comments that were picked up by an on-court microphone, Kyrgios told Wawrinka that Thanasi Kokkinakis, his Australian Davis Cup colleague, had “banged your girlfriend”.

Kyrgios was fined $10,000 (about £6,500) but the Association of Tennis Professionals, which runs the men’s tour, announced last week it would fine him an additional $25,000 and ban him for 28 days if his behaviour did not improve in the next six months.

While the world No 37 has won only two matches since Wimbledon, Murray has been in fine form. He beat Djokovic to win the title in Montreal and reached the semi-finals in Cincinnati last week before losing to Federer. The Scot, who is set to face Kyrgios again next month in Glasgow in the semi-finals of the Davis Cup, beat the Australian in straight sets at both the Australian and French Opens this year.

If results go according to seedings and rankings Murray will play France’s Adrian Mannarino in the second round and Brazil’s Thomaz Bellucci in the third – his opening match is against Britain’s James Ward. Murray is seeded to meet South African’s Kevin Anderson in the fourth round, after which he could face the three Grand Slam winners.

Wawrinka beat Murray in straight sets here two years ago, while Federer has won their last five meetings. Murray ended his eight-match losing streak against Djokovic in Montreal.

Aljaz Bedene plays Ernests Gulbis, while Heather Watson and Laura Robson, the Britons with confirmed places in the main draw of the women’s singles, both have winnable first-round matches.

Watson first faces Lauren Davis of the United States, with Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova her likely second-round opponent. Robson takes on Russia’s Elena Vesnina, the winner facing Germany’s Andrea Petkovic or France’s Caroline Garcia.

Britain’s Jo Konta and Brydan Klein earned places in the final round of qualifying yesterday. Konta beat Japan’s Naomi Osaka 6-4, 6-4 and faces Austria’s Tamira Paszek. Klein beat France’s Tristan Lamasine 6-3, 6-2 to earn a meeting with Australia’s Matthew Ebden.