Novak Djokovic of Croatia and Carlos Alcaraz from Spain are set to grace the courts as the curtain rises on the highly anticipated US Open, marking the fourth and final Grand Slam event of the year. The tournament commences this upcoming Monday.
Djokovic, who currently holds the second spot in the global rankings, is poised to vie for his 24th Grand Slam singles championship. This achievement would parallel Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles, a remarkable feat that stands as the pinnacle in tennis history, transcending gender distinctions.
The 36-year-old Serbian player was absent from the competition last year, having declined vaccination, and he is now ready to take on Alexandre Muller, ranked 84th in the world, at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. Djokovic has already secured victories at the Australian Open and French Open earlier in the year. His only setback occurred at Wimbledon, where he was defeated in the final by Carlos Alcaraz.
On a parallel note, Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning champion and world number one, will embark on his title defense by confronting Dominik Koepfer of Germany in the opening round. Alcaraz, a 20-year-old sensation, previously triumphed over Novak Djokovic in a five-set thriller at Wimbledon, capturing his second Grand Slam title.
As for the women’s competition, Iga Swiatek, the top-ranked player in the world and reigning champion, will commence her journey by facing off against Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson in the initial round. Among the notable contenders in the draw are Petra Kvitova, Elena Rybakina, Victoria Azarenka, and the crowd favorite Coco Gauff.
The prestigious tournament is slated to take place in New York from August 28 to September 10, promising thrilling displays of talent, determination, and sportsmanship on the courts.
