Murray faces hard test in Nalbandian

Murray suffered an embarrassing defeat last weak (AP)

Andy Murray will try to kick-start his US Open build-up when he meets David Nalbandian in his opening match at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati today.

The Briton suffered a surprise loss to Kevin Anderson in Montreal last week and Cincinnati is his only remaining tournament ahead of Flushing Meadows. Murray had a first-round bye as the fourth seed, while Nalbandian defeated Japan's Kei Nishikori.

Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams are among the ATP and WTA players on show. The pair won titles in Canada over the weekend and are firm favourites ahead of the US Open, which begins in New York on 29 August.

British hopes in Cincinnati rest on Murray after Elena Baltacha Anne Keothavong and Laura Robson all fell in qualifying. Murray is in the same half of the draw as Rafael Nadal, while Djokovic is seeded to meet Roger Federer in the semi-finals. Nalbandian and Murray have met four times and share a 2-2 record.