Novak Djokovic to avoid Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner until final | ATP Tour

US Open

Djokovic avoids Alcaraz and Sinner until the final

The US Open 2024 draw was announced this Thursday

August 22, 2024

Novak Djokovic is the centre of attention at this year’s US Open. Not only because he was recently crowned Olympic gold medallist in Paris 2024, but also because he is the man in charge of defending the crown he won last year at Flushing Meadows, the last Grand Slam to come to his showcase.

The second seed, who starts at the bottom of the draw, will open his year-end match against a qualifier, while the winner of the duel between his compatriot Laslo Djere and German Jan-Lennard Struff could await him in the second round. The third round could see the 28th seed and ATP Masters 1000 champion from Canada, Alexei Popyrin.

Always following the logic of the PIF ATP Rankings, if Djokovic makes it through to the second week in New York, he could face a local favorite: either No. 13 Ben Shelton or No. 20 Frances Tiafoe, finalist at the ATP Masters 1000 in Cincinnati, as the most prominent names. Already in the quarterfinals, the figure of No. 6 Andrey Rublev is looming.

Painting drawn! 💪

Sinner [1] vs Medvedev [5]
Alcaraz [3] vs Hurkacz [7]
Zverev [4] vs Ruud [8]
Djokovic [2] vs Rublev [6]

These would be the hypothetical CF crosses in the #USOpen (according to PIF ATP Rankings). https://t.co/DK1Sn2zkqX

— ATP Tour in Spanish (@ATPTour_ES) August 22, 2024

The semi-finals would be reserved, if he lives up to the forecast of being the No. 4 seed, for Alexander Zverev, who is in the same quarter as Casper Ruud, seeded No. 8. The German begins his participation against Emil Ruusuvuori, while the Norwegian will do so against an opponent from the qualifiers.

Zverev could face an Argentine in the third round: either No. 29 Francisco Cerúndolo or Tomás Martín Etcheverry, who are in the same part of the draw. In the fourth round, an interesting matchup against No. 15 Holger Rune is expected, although No. 18 Lorenzo Musetti or Pablo Carreño Busta are also in that bracket.

For his part, the 2022 US Open champion, Carlos Alcaraz, is the No. 3 seed and will have to face a player from the qualifiers in the first round. Of course, the level of difficulty will increase considerably if he manages to surpass his debut. He would play against Denis Shapovalov or Botic van de Zandschulp, who both know what it is like to reach the quarterfinals in the tournament.

In the third round, according to the ranking projections, he would face the British Jack Draper, seeded No. 25; while in the fourth round he would have to fight a local like the No. 16 Sebastian Korda. The Chilean Alejandro Tabilo, seeded No. 22, would also be a possibility in the round of 16.

And in the quarterfinals, the most prominent racket would be that of Hubert Hurkacz, the seventh seed. However, there are other dangerous alternatives that can put the Pole in check before the quarterfinals, such as No. 10 Alex de Minaur or No. 23 Karen Khachanov, who reached the semifinals in 2022.

Alcaraz’s first big challenge would come before the final. His possible opponent in the semi-finals would be world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. To get there, the Italian would first have to overcome Mackenzie McDonald in the first round; while in the second round he would face Alex Michelsen or a qualifier.

Chilean Nicolas Jarry is a possible third-round test as the No. 26 seed, although wild card and 2016 champion Stan Wawrinka is in the mix. The fourth round holds a possible showdown with No. 14 Tommy Paul, one of the big American hopes.

In the quarterfinals, he would have a date with Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 champion, provided he goes through all the stages until he reaches the top eight. It will not be easy, because in the fourth round he could meet the No. 11 favorite Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Beyond the cabal and the possible crossovers, the players already know the seven steps they must take on the court to win the US Open crown next Sunday, September 8.