US Open draw raises prospect of Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz rematch
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In 2022, Jannik Sinner (left) and Carlos Alcaraz produced an epic 5hr 15min quarter-final which concluded at 2.50am.
PHOTOS: REUTERS, AFP
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NEW YORK – World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has been placed in the same side of the draw as former champions Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev for next week’s US Open, and will start his campaign against Mackenzie McDonald.
Second seed and defending champion Novak Djokovic, who beat Russia’s Medvedev in the 2023 final, is in the same half as Germany’s Alexander Zverev.
The draw on Aug 22 raises the prospect of a possible semi-final clash between Sinner and world No. 3 Alcaraz, who in 2022 produced an epic 5hr 15min quarter-final which concluded at 2.50am.
Spaniard Alcaraz won that battle and went on to win his first US Open title. But to reach a rematch, Italian star Sinner may need to first get past 2021 champion Medvedev in the quarter-finals.
The 23-year-old heads to New York under a cloud after he was cleared of any wrongdoing despite twice testing positive
Sinner had explained that the substance had originated from a spray, containing clostebol, that had been used by a member of his staff to treat a cut finger. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted the explanation.
Power-hitting Chilean Nicolas Jarry, the 26th seed, is the first seeded rival Sinner could face.
Paris Olympic champion Djokovic will start against qualifier Radu Albot of Moldova and then play either fellow Serb Laslo Djere or Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff.
The four-time US Open winner is bidding to clinch a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title.
Ben Shelton, who reached the semi-finals a year ago, will begin his bid in front of home fans against 2020 champion Dominic Thiem, who is set for retirement after the tournament.
In the women’s draw, world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and defending champion Coco Gauff of the United States have been drawn in the same half and could meet in the semi-finals.
Coco Gauff (left) celebrating with the US Open trophy in 2023, with runner-up Aryna Sabalenka.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Polish world No. 1 and 2022 champion Iga Swiatek’s highest-ranked potential semi-final opponent is fourth-ranked Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan.
The highlight match of the opening round sees four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka, the 2018 and 2020 champion at Flushing Meadows, facing 2017 French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko.
The clash will be the Japanese star’s first at the US Open since becoming a mother.
Fifth-seed Italian Jasmine Paolini, this season’s French Open and Wimbledon runner-up, plays 2019 champion Bianca Andreescu of Canada.
Sixth seed and home hope Jessica Pegula, fresh from her run to the final in Cincinnati and title in Toronto, opens against compatriot Shelby Rogers.
Should she progress, she will face a former Grand Slam winner in the second round – either Briton Emma Raducanu, US Open champion in 2021 or American Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion. AFP
