By joiner martinez
Aug 24, 2023, 19:45 PM EDT
Spanish Carlos Alcaraz’s US Open title defense will begin against German Dominik Koepfer, No. 78 on the ATP. In the second round he would face the winner of the match between the Argentine Guido Pella and the South African Lloyd Harris.
Alcaraz, the first seed of the tournament, would only face Serbian Novak Djokovic, second favorite and who returns after missing last year’s edition due to his refusal to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, in a hypothetical final.
The Spaniard beat Djokovic in the Wimbledon final but lost last week to the Serbian in the title match at the Cincinnati Masters 1,000.
Later, in the third round, Alcaraz could face the British Daniel Evans (28) and in the round of 16 another tennis player from the United Kingdom, Cameron Norrie (16), could cross his path.
In the quarterfinals, Alcaraz could meet again with the Italian Jannik Sinner (6), one of his most difficult rivals on the circuit. In the semifinals, the man from El Palmar could face the Russian Daniil Medvedev (3).
For his part, Novak Djokovic will start against the French Alexandre Müller (85) and for his part of the box appears, for example, the Danish Holger Rune (4).
Also appearing as possible Djokovic rivals before the final are the Norwegian Casper Ruud (5), the Americans Taylor Fritz (9) and Frances Tiafoe (10) and the Spanish Alejandro Davidovich (21).
Swiatek the great female favorite
Defending USOpen 2022 champion Iga Swiatek could meet Coco Gauff in a potential quarterfinal matchup.
In addition to Swiatek-Gauff, potential women’s quarterfinalists are Elena Rybakina (No. 4) vs. Maria Sakkari (8) in the top half and Aryna Sabalenka (2) Ons Jabeur (2022 finalist) Jessica Pegula (3) vs. Caroline Garcia (7).
American Pegula, who is 0-6 in Grand Slam quarterfinals, plays Camila Giorgi in the first round.
For her part, Venus Williams, who won two of her seven Grand Slam singles titles at the US Open but needed a wild card to compete at 43, starts against Spain’s Paula Badosa, who was ranked No. 2 last year but now it is No. 46.
Meanwhile, Caroline Wozniacki, another former No. 1 ranked player who was invited, crashes into a qualy after ending a three-year retirement.
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