World number one Jannik Sinner will begin his US Open campaign against American Mackenzie McDonald, with the Italian star placed in the same side of the draw as former champions Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev. This setup raises the potential for thrilling matchups, including a possible semi-final clash between Sinner and Alcaraz, who battled through a memorable five-hour, 15-minute quarter-final in 2022, won by Alcaraz on his way to securing his first US Open title.
Before any potential rematch with Alcaraz, Sinner might need to overcome 2021 champion Medvedev in the quarter-finals. The 23-year-old Sinner arrives at the tournament after being cleared of any wrongdoing following two positive tests for a banned substance earlier this season. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted that the substance, clostebol, was unintentionally used from a spray by a member of his staff to treat a cut.
In his opening match, Sinner could face a seeded challenge from Chilean Nicolas Jarry, the 26th seed, whom he has played only once before, in 2019.
On the other side of the men’s draw, second seed and defending champion Novak Djokovic, who defeated Medvedev in last year’s final, finds himself in the same half as German Alexander Zverev. Djokovic will open against a qualifier, with a potential second-round match against fellow Serb Laslo Djere or Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff. Djokovic is eyeing a record 25th Grand Slam title.
Other notable matchups include last year’s US Open semi-finalist Ben Shelton facing 2020 champion Dominic Thiem, who is playing his final year on tour.
In the women’s draw, world number two Aryna Sabalenka and defending champion Coco Gauff have been placed in the same half, setting up a potential semi-final meeting. Meanwhile, world number one and 2022 champion Iga Swiatek could face fourth-ranked Elena Rybakina in the semi-finals.
The first round also features a highly anticipated clash between four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka and number ten seed Jelena Ostapenko, marking Osaka’s return to the US Open since becoming a mother. Additionally, fifth seed Jasmine Paolini will play against 2019 champion Bianca Andreescu, while sixth seed Jessica Pegula, fresh off her Cincinnati final and Toronto title, opens against compatriot Shelby Rogers and could face either former Grand Slam winners Emma Raducanu or Sofia Kenin in the second round.
