Andy Murray will have to win the US Open the hard way after a tough draw pitted him against Dutchman Robin Haase in the first round.

Murray will be wary of the world number 70 having needed to fight back from two sets down to beat him here in 2011, although he was an easy winner when they met in the Australian Open last year.

The draw was not kind to Murray, the 2012 champion, who is seeded only eighth at Flushing Meadows this year. He is in the same quarter as world No.1 Novak Djokovic and could meet his Toronto conqueror, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, in the fourth round.

British women's No.1 Heather Watson is in good form and back in the top 50. She meets Romanian Sorana Cirstea in the first round and could play Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard in round two.

Johanna Konta qualified for the main draw on ranking for the first time this year and plays Israel's Shahar Peer.

The standout match of the women's opening round pits top seed and two-time defending champion Serena Williams against exciting American teenager Taylor Townsend.