By Tony Fairbairn
- Defending champion Novak Djokovic has favourable draw as the Serb aims to stop Carlos Alcaraz’s Grand Slam surge
- Top Seeds: Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev
- British Interest: Jack Draper [25], Dan Evans, Jan Choinski [Q]
NEW YORK, USA – Defending champion Novak Djokovic is aiming for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title at the US Open as he looks to stop Carlos Alcaraz’s Grand Slam surge.
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[1] Jannik Sinner
Best Result: Quarter-Final (2022)
After a mixture of controversy and success, world number one Sinner will aim to respond to his critics on the court as the Italian aims to build on his Cincinnati title and win his maiden US Open title.
Sinner’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: Mackenzie McDonald | H2H: Sinner leads 3-0
- R2: Alex Michelsen | H2H: Sinner leads 1-0
- R3: Nicolas Jarry [26] | H2H: Jarry leads 1-0
- R4: Tommy Paul [14] | H2H: Sinner leads 2-1
- QF: Daniil Medvedev [5] | H2H: Medvedev leads 7-5
- SF: Carlos Alcaraz [3] | H2H: Alcaraz leads 5-4
- F: Novak Djokovic [1] | H2H: Djokovic leads 4-3
Sinner has a very tricky first week as he opens up against Mackenzie McDonald before facing an in-form Alex Michelsen in the second round. Either Nicolas Jarry or former champion Stan Wawrinka will provide a difficult test for the world number one in the third round. Starting the second round should be a very stern test against Tommy Paul with former champion Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsistipas or Felix Auger-Aliassime awaiting in the quarter-finals ahead of a blockbuster semi-final with Alcaraz. Ultimately this is a very tough draw for Sinner but if he continues to produce the form he did in Cincinnati then he should be the slight favourite to take the title in New York.
[2] Novak Djokovic
Best Result: Champion (2011, 2015, 2018, 2023)
After achieving his dream by winning the gold medal in Paris, Djokovic will be playing with freedom and motivation with history on the line in New York.
Djokovic’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: Radu Albot [Q] | H2H: First Meeting
- R2: Jan-Lennard Struff | H2H: Djokovic leads 7-0
- R3: Alexei Popyrin [28] | H2H: Djokovic leads 3-0
- R4: Ben Shelton [13] | H2H: Djokovic leads 1-0
- QF: Andrey Rublev [6] | H2H: Djokovic leads 5-1
- SF: Alexander Zverev [4] | H2H: Djokovic leads 8-4
- F: Jannik Sinner [1] | H2H: Djokovic leads 4-3
Djokovic couldn’t have asked for a better draw although Ben Shelton could provide a tough test in the last 16 in what would be a rematch from last year’s semi-final. A quarter-final against either Andrey Rublev or Grigor Dimitrov will be testing although far from the worst case scenario given how inconsistent both players can be at Grand Slams. Ultimately Djokovic is heavy favourite to reach the final and with the form and confidence the Serb is in at the moment, there is no reason why New York can’t be the place where he captures a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title.
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[3] Carlos Alcaraz
Best Result: Champion (2022)
Alcaraz is aiming to continue his Grand Slam surge and capture a third consecutive Grand Slam title but will know it will be far from easy after suffering tough losses at the Olympics and Cincinnati.
Alcaraz’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: Li Tu [Q] | H2H: First Meeting
- R2: Botic Van De Zandschulp | H2H: Alcaraz leads 2-0
- R3: Jack Draper [25] | H2H: Alcaraz leads 2-1
- R4: Sebastian Korda [16] | H2H: Alcaraz leads 4-1
- QF: Hubert Hurkacz [7] | H2H: Alcaraz leads 3-0
- SF: Jannik Sinner [1] | H2H: Alcaraz leads 5-4
- F: Novak Djokovic [2] | H2H: Djokovic leads 4-3
Alcaraz has been given a very tough draw in his bid to win the US Open as he will potentially have to get past Denis Shapovalov and Jack Draper in order to reach the second week. The Spaniard could reignite his rivalry with Sebastian Korda in the last 16 with Hubert Hurkacz or Alex De Minaur awaiting in the quarter-finals. Ultimately it will be a super human effort for Alcaraz to win the US Open this year but if there is one man who is capable of achieving this feat then Alcaraz would be that player as he has already won three Grand Slam title on three different surfaces at the age of 21.
[4] Alexander Zverev
Best Result: Final (2020)
Zverev will aim to put some painful losses behind him as he aims to win his first Grand Slam title in New York.
Zverev’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: Emil Ruusuvuori | H2H: Tied at 1-1
- R2: Alexandre Muller [WC] | H2H: First Meeting
- R3: Francisco Cerundolo [29] | H2H: Cerundolo leads 1-0
- R4: Holger Rune [15] | H2H: Zverev leads 3-1
- QF: Casper Ruud [8] | H2H: Zverev leads 3-2
- SF: Novak Djokovic [2] | H2H: Djokovic leads 8-4
- F: Jannik Sinner [1] | H2H: Zverev leads 4-2
Zverev will start his US Open against Emil Ruusuvuori in what is set to be a tough opening round for the German. A third round match against Francisco Cerundolo is a dangerous prospect for Zverev as the Argentinian is just as effective on hard courts as he is on clay. A fourth round test against Holger Rune or Lorenzo Musetti could decide how his US Open title credentials hold up before Taylor Fritz awaits in the quarter-finals. This is a really open section of the draw which the German should get through as long as he is able to stay consistent.
The US Open begins on the 26th of August and concludes on the eighth of September.
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