US Open - Men’s Singles Preview Pt 1

US Open Men’s Singles - preview pt 1

Following the epic Western & Southern Open final between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic a week or so ago, it would be fitting for an encore in Arthur Ashe Stadium after the coming fortnight of US Open action at Flushing Meadows.

Alcaraz, the number one seed, and defending US Open champion, is anxious for revenge, and he can only exact it if the pair meet in the final.

Let’s consider the paths to what might be a contest which measures up to the classic brought us at Wimbledon. First the second seed Novak Djokovic.

Shooting for major number 24, he is drawn to play Frenchman Alexandre Müller first up - Müller’s first time in the main draw here, and first time he has played Djokovic. And first loss it will be.

Likely be Spain’s Bernabe Zapata Miralles in the second round, and Bernabe hasn’t made it past the second round in three attempts before.

First meeting with Djokovic and an exit from Queens.

Third round becomes a little bit more interesting as it could be a clash with countryman Laslo Djere, the 32nd seed, or Brandon Nakashima.

However, Djere has lost in the first round in the past four Opens, and Nakashima hasn’t made it past the third round before.

A smooth ride to the round of sixteen appears on the card for Djokovic.

Felix Auger-Aliassime, 15th seed, could be the opponent awaiting there, despite his disappointing recent form - Three match wins since he made the quarters in Indian Wells in March.

However, a semi finalist in the 2021 US Open, where the eventual champion, Daniil Medvedev eliminated him.

Felix has beaten Djokovic once, albeit just in the 2022 exhibition Laver Cup.

He won’t trouble Novak if they cross paths this time.

Potential quarter final stumbling blocks are difficult to pick. Stefanos Tsitsipas, is the best on paper, seeded seventh, but is out of touch and with a weak Open CV. 

Tsitsipas has lost his past ten matches to Djokovic, and faces Milos Raonic in a tough first round encounter.

Ninth seed Taylor Fritz, drawn to meet Tsitsipas in the round of sixteen, hasn’t hit the mark in previous US Opens, but is in form, winning a tournament in Atlanta and losing in semis to ultimate champion Djokovic in Western & Southern Open.

Fritz is 0-7 against Djokovic, and 0-8 after a US Open quarter final loss soon.

The top half of the bottom draw decides the Djokovic semi final opponent.

The quarter featuring sixth seed Casper Ruud, last year’s runner up.

He should win a round of sixteen battle with last year’s semi finalist Frances Tiafoe tenth seed.

The other quarter has fourth seed Holger Rune.

Third round in last year’s event, his second try.

0-2 since Wimbledon and a number of in form players in his quarter including Jiri Lehecka - finalist in the current Winston-Salem tournament, and likely second round headache for Rune.

Previous champion, Dominic Thiem, also appears in the quarter, from which I’m selecting Tommy Paul to prevail, then to lose to Casper Ruud in their quarter final.

So my predictions for the bottom half of the draw:

Round of sixteen:

Casper Ruud (6) defeats Frances Tiafoe (10)

Tommy Paul (14) defeats Jiri Lehecka 

Taylor Fritz (9) defeats Stefanos Tsitsipas (7)

Novak Djokovic (2) defeats Felix Auger-Aliassime (15)

Quarter finals:

Casper Ruud (6) defeats Tommy Paul (14)

Novak Djokovic (2) defeats Taylor Fritz (9)

Semi final:

Novak Djokovic (2) defeats Casper Ruud (6)