The U.S. Open men’s singles draw was revealed on Thursday afternoon. It appears to be a balanced bracket from top to bottom, setting the stage for what should be an epic fortnight at Flushing Meadows.
The top half is home to Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Jack Draper, Alex de Minaur, Karen Khachanov, Tommy Paul, and Andrey Rublev. The bottom half includes Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, Novak Djokovic, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Holger Rune, and 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev.
Sinner retired from the recent Cincinnati championship match against Alcaraz, but he practice in New York on Thursday and will surely be good to go for the last major of the season. The top-ranked Italian should cruise through his section, where other contenders such as Draper, Musetti, and Paul have been plagued by injuries this summer. Sinner’s potential semifinal foe will come from an intriguing quarter that includes Zverev, De Minaur, Khachanov, Rublev, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Djokovic finds himself in Fritz’s quarter–not a terrible spot. The 38-year-old Serb will begin his bid for a 25th slam title against Learner Tien and he could meet another American, Alex Michelsen, in the third round. Tiafoe and Rune are possible fourth-round foes for Djokovic.
Alcaraz and Shelton are on a collision course for the quarters at the bottom of the bracket. Although they should make it there, it may not be a complete walk in the park. Medvedev and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina could square off in the third round, with the winner likely to face Alcaraz in the last 16. Casper Ruud, who finished runner-up in mixed doubles with Iga Swiatek, is a possible fourth-round opponent for Shelton.
First-round matches to watch are Musetti vs. Mpetshi Perricard, Francisco Cerundolo vs. Matteo Arnaldi, Alexander Bublik vs. Marin Cilic, and Joao Fonseca vs. Miomir Kecmanovic.
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on Twitter at @Dimonator.