In less than a week the last Grand Slam of the season – the US Open – will start, which is the main goal of all top players. The top three favourites for the men’s tournament are Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, who want to win one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world.
The Italian ace has not yet completely solved his hip problems, but he managed to win the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati by showing all his mental strength. In New York, Jannik reached the round of 16 in 2021 and 2023 and the quarterfinals in 2022 when he was defeated by Carlos Alcaraz in one of the best matches of recent years. The Spaniard has been very energetic in the last two months, winning the French Open, the Wimbledon Championships and the silver medal at the Paris Olympics. The 21-year-old from Murcia was beaten by Novak Djokovic, who has fulfilled his greatest dream.
Serbian legend has taken a break after the Games, preferring to recharge in view of the final Major of the season. The 37-year-old from Belgrade will arrive in New York without having played the Masters 1000 in Montreal and Cincinnati, just as he had done in 2021. Novak Djokovic’s next goal is to win his 25th Grand Slam title, which would project him even more into the legend.
Laura Robson on Nole Djokovic
During a recent interview with Sky Sports, former British No.1 Laura Robson opened up on Nole’s chances in New York: “The 25th Grand Slam doesn’t feel too far away for Novak, but he’s on a well-earned break and I think we will need to see if he even wants to show up at the US Open…
He’s achieved something that he’s described as the pinnacle of his sporting career, so I think it’s quite hard to reset after that. We know he can win it! We absolutely know he can do it, but whether he wants to come back so soon is the challenge. How can anything live up to that moment of winning the medal you’ve always wanted? Then to see his homecoming in Serbia and to see the reaction that he’s had from the public. It will be tough to arrive in New York raring to go!”
She also discussed the Olympic final: “It’s incredible the way Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz can play tennis. The gold medal meant so much to them both. All that build-up and pressure for Djokovic knowing Paris was probably his last Olympics and a final chance at gold.
To play that well against someone he had lost to just a couple of weeks before. Someone who has just won two Grand Slams, who is having an incredible summer – I found it really inspiring! How he was so motivated to win this one thing that he had never completed in tennis, so the reaction said it all in the end.” According to the bookmakers, the 24-time Grand Slam champion will start the last Major of the season slightly behind Alcaraz and Sinner.
The US Open is coming soon
After the historic win of Jannik Sinner in Cincinnati, which we remember being his 3rd Masters 1000 title, the world of tennis has already projected itself to the next big event, scheduled in a week, let’s talk about the US Open.
The official list of 32 starting players in New York, with their order of ranking, has been released. In anticipation of the draws that will be published this Thursday, it is possible to analyze already the parterre present at Flushing Meadows, which will give life to a great show for what will be the last Grand Slam of the season.
At the top of the ranking we have our Sinner, who seems to have overcome the physical problems that had tormented him in the last few hours. First his tonsillitis, which prevented him from taking part in the Olympic Games in Paris, then some muscle problems he suffered during the tournament in Ohio, made him lose his place among the favorite candidates for the title in New York, but his candidacy has clearly risen.
In second place is Novak Djokovic, who after breaking the spell at the Olympics, wants to play in the tournaments that fascinate him most. Winning the 25th Slam, beating Margaret Court, is for the Serbian a good reason to continue fighting and amaze everyone. The Serbian champion will not be able to meet Sinner, at least until the final. In third position Carlos Alcaraz, eager to put behind the ‘disappointment’ of the silver medal in Paris and the early elimination in North America.
