Novak Djokovic’s helpful path to US Open ultimate as Alcaraz showdown looms
Novak Djokovic has discovered his draw on the US Open as he prepares to play the event for the primary time since 2021. And the world No 2 has a beneficial route by means of to the quarter-finals, the place issues might get powerful. With Carlos Alcaraz heading the draw as the highest seed, each males are on a collision course to fulfill within the ultimate.
Djokovic is again on the US Open for the primary time since he misplaced within the ultimate two years in the past. The Serb had been unable to journey to America as a result of Covid vaccine necessities however he made a comeback in Cincinnati final week, beating Alcaraz in an exhilarating ultimate.
The pair are on for a rematch simply weeks later as they’re on reverse halves of the draw and will have a date within the championship match on Sunday, September 10. But each males must get there first and the 36-year-old has a helpful route by means of.
Djokovic begins his marketing campaign in opposition to world No 85 Alexandre Muller, with both Bernabe Zapata Miralles or American wildcard Ethan Quinn awaiting within the second spherical. Laslo Djere is the primary seed Djokovic might meet on the event, with the man Serb simply getting a spot because the thirty second seed and serving as a possible third-round opponent.
Djokovic might face Felix Auger-Aliassime within the fourth spherical, although the world No 15 has been struggling for type and misplaced 5 of his final six matches. Francisco Cerundolo can also be a possible round-of-16 opponent earlier than issues ramp up within the quarter-final the place the 23-time Grand Slam champion might face prime 10 stars Stefanos Tsitsipas or Taylor Fritz.
Last yr’s runner-up Casper Ruud is within the Serb’s half of the draw, which means he’s a possible semi-final opponent. And fourth seed Holger Rune – who upset Djokovic in final yr’s Paris Masters ultimate – might additionally face the world No 2 within the semi-final. As effectively as Alcaraz within the reverse half, the likes of Daniil Medvedev, Jannik Sinner and Andrey Rublev might be different potential opponents within the ultimate.
Fourth spherical: [15] Auger-Aliassime / [20] Cerundolo
Quarter-final: [7] Tsitsipas / [9] Fritz
Semi-final: [4] Rune / [5] Ruud
Final: [1] Alcaraz / [3] Medvedev / [6] Sinner / [8] Rublev