The final tennis grand slam of the year is upon us, as the US Open gets underway this weekend.
In the men’s event, it promises to provide a fascinating tournament with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz returning to competitive tennis after a four-month injury-enforced lay-off. Despite his injury concerns, the two-time Flushing Meadows winner enters as tournament favourite owing to the absence of 2024 champion Jannik Sinner. The Italian has not played competitively since winning the Wimbledon title in July and continues to be hampered by a knee issue.
If Alcaraz is to defend his trophy, he’ll have to navigate a tough opening round tie after being drawn against in-form Russian Roman Safiullin. With the Spaniard’s ongoing fitness worries and the absence of the likes of Sinner and Brit Jack Draper, many deem the men’s event to be as open as it has been in years.
Veteran Novak Djokovic cannot be discounted, either. The Serb, now 39, is chasing a 25th Grand Slam title, will face against Argentina’s world No 48 Mariano Navone in round one. There is the potential for Djokovic and Alcaraz to meet in the semi-finals should both men come through their respective routes.
In terms of British interest, Draper’s withdrawal plunges the spotlight once more on Arthur Fery – who won a legion of new fans after his amazing march to the Wimbledon semi-finals earlier this summer. Fery faces 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti in his opener. British men’s number one Cameron Norrie plays France’s Luca van Assche whilst Jan Choinski faces Botic van de Zandschulp.
In the Women’s event, defending champion Aryna Sabalenka begins against Camila Osorio as she targes a third straight title. Katie Boulter is the only guaranteed British woman in the main draw and faces homegrown wildcard Carol Lee. Emma Raducanu, who rose to fame after her epic 2021 tournament win, misses out entirely as she continues to rehab from a stress fracture. A glut of British women are in qualifying action as they attempt to join Boulter in the main draw.
Arguably one of the biggest stories at Flushing Meadows is the presence of veteran and icon Venus Williams. The 46-year-old, who won this tournament in 2000 and 2001, was given a wildcard despite having lost all 10 outings this season. She’ll face 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in the first round in a contest that will no doubt gain plenty of attention.
