US Open males’s energy rankings – Does Carlos Alcaraz or Novak Djokovic take No. 1

The US Open will get underway on Monday, Aug. 28 and, as ordinary, there might be loads to look out for on the closing Grand Slam of the 12 months. The greatest query mark heading into the subsequent two weeks is: Can anybody cease Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic?

It is a Grand Slam that has produced 5 completely different males’s champions within the final 5 years — a little bit of a unique look from the opposite majors. Until Alcaraz’s win over Djokovic at Wimbledon in July, the opposite three Grand Slams had been by one of many “Big Three” —Djokovic, Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal — since 2017.

World rankings are one factor, a participant’s report on the floor is one other that would impression who will come out on high. It’s all simply as slippery because the arduous courts can get when it rains in Queens.

With that, Daily Express Sports US has taken a bit of bit of every of the present rankings, Grand Slam data and historical past on the US Open, combined all of it collectively and compiled the highest 10 energy rankings for males’s singles on the 2023 US Open.

1. Novak Djokovic

World Ranking: 2

First spherical opponent: Alexandre Muller

While Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka have all light over time, Djokovic appears – remarkably – to be getting higher with age. Injury issues are few and much between for the Serb who has reached the ultimate in eight of the final 9 Grand Slams he has performed in, profitable six to turn into the lads’s singles all-time Grand Slam champio with 23 titles. For good measure, he’s a three-time US Open champ – though not since 2018 – and topped Alcaraz in a grueling three-setter on the Cincinnati Open this August. The draw has arrange effectively for the No. 2 seed too, and he is our favourite to carry the trophy.

2. Carlos Alcaraz

World Ranking: 1

First spherical opponent: Dominik Koepfler

Despite that defeat to Djokovic in one other thriller final week, Carlitos can be a worthy favourite and will have simply been atop this checklist, however the draw finally dropped him down a spot. The world No. 1, defending US Open champion and the winner of the final main — after knocking off the all-time males’s Grand Slam chief in a stone-cold Wimbledon traditional — does have a tough go to the Sept. 10. He’s anticipated to see Jannik Sinner is the quarters and Daniil Medvedev within the semis on the more durable facet of the draw.

7. Frances Tiafoe

World Ranking: 10

First spherical opponent: Learner Tien

Tiafoe is coming of age on the tour, including consistency to his explosive sport throughout the final 12 months. It all got here collectively in New York final 12 months when he made a memorable run to the semifinals. The American received his second and third profession singles titles this 12 months to determine himself on the earth’s high 10. A solitary quarterfinal within the post-Wimbledon arduous courtroom swing suggests he might have his eye fastened on Flushing Meadows, the place his showmanship performs to the gang and gives an opportunity at a significant success – if he can convey the whole lot collectively.

8. Alexander Zverev

World Ranking: 12

First spherical opponent: Aleksandar Vukic

The German is on a wave of resurgent kind coming into the final main of the 12 months — which additionally occurs to be the one Grand Slam closing he has reached. Six semifinals in his final 12 majors are a testomony to his potential to combine it on the high, whereas Olympic gold in 2021 and two ATP Finals titles underline his love of the massive event. Having dropped to twenty seventh on the earth on the finish of May, he’s again as much as 12 and reached the Cincinnati Masters semifinals earlier than being narrowly crushed by Djokovic.

9. Stefanos Tsitsipas

World Ranking: 7

First spherical opponent: Milos Raonic

Despite Milos Raonic, the big-serving Canadian, barely enjoying this season resulting from harm, its a less-than-ideal matchup within the opening spherical for Tsitsipas. Couple that with 5 wins in 5 years on the US Open, it doesn’t do a lot for his hopes right here both. With two first-round exits in his final 4 visits, together with to a qualifier final 12 months, it is arduous to make a good case for the Greek. His finest Grand Slam performances additionally normally come within the first half of the 12 months with all seven quarterfinals — win or lose — performed on the Australian or French Opens. Victory in Los Cabos a few weeks in the past advised he is raring to go however that was earlier than he suffered early exits in Toronto and Cincinnati.

10. Taylor Fritz

World Ranking: 9

First spherical opponent: Steve Johnson

First the constructive: He is maybe in higher kind than Tiafoe so far as the American hopefuls are involved after a title in Atlanta, a semifinal in Washington, D.C., and a quarterfinal in Cincinnati. Now the negatives: He has only one Grand Slam quarterfinal in his 28 essential draw appearances at a significant; has by no means gone past the third spherical in New York; and has simply 4 Grand Slam match victories this 12 months. Playing higher than ever, Fritz wants a run in a significant and it might come over the subsequent two weeks on house soil.