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)

US Open - Women’s Singles

2023 US Open - Women’s Singles

2023 US Open, final Grand Slam tournament of the year, on Hard Outdoor, New York City, New York, USA, 28 August - 10 September 2023.

Defending champion:

Iga Swiatek (1) who defeated Ons Jabeur (5) 6-2 7-6(5)

The following players withdrew after entering but before the main draw was published:

- Shelby Rogers replaced by Kateryna Baindl

- Aleksandra Krunic replaced by Margarita Betova

- Zhang Shuai replaced by Caroline Dolehide 

- Caty McNally replaced Madison Brengle 

- Simona Halep replaced by Taylor Townsend 

- Bianca Andreescu replaced by lucky loser Yanina Wickmayer 

- Paula Badosa replaced by lucky loser Kimberly Birrell 

- Julia Grabher replaced by Viktoria Hruncakova

Iga Swiatek, world number 1, is top seed.

The other 31 seeds are all in the top 32

There are no byes.

US Open - Men’s Singles

2023 US Open - Men’s Singles

2023 US Open, final Grand Slam tournament of the year, on Hard Outdoor, New York City, New York, USA, 28 August - 10 September 2023.

Defending champion:

Carlos Alcaraz (3) who defeated Casper Ruud (5) 6-4 2-6 7-6(1) 6-3

The following players withdrew after entering but before the main draw was published:

- Mikael Ymer replaced by Alexander Shevchenko 

- Jan-Lennard Struff replaced by Facundo Diaz Acosta 

- Nick Kyrgios replaced by Diego Schwartzman 

- Pablo Carreno Busta replaced by Radu Albot 

- Reilly Opelka replaced by Juan Manuel Cerundolo 

- Marin Cilic replaced by Kwon Soon-woo

- Denis Shapovalov replaced by Attila Balazs

- Roberto Bautista Agut replaced by Yosuke Watanuki

- Kei Nishikori replaced by lucky loser James Duckworth 

- Emil Ruusuvuori replaced by lucky loser Arthur Cazaux

Carlos Alcaraz, world number 1, is top seed.

The other 31 seeds are all in the top 38

There are no byes.

Baez wins Winston-Salem title

Final day in Winston-Salem.

2023 Winston-Salem Open, an ATP 250 tournament, on Hard Outdoor, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA, 20-26 August 2023.

2022 champion (not defending):

Adrian Mannarino who defeated Laslo Djere 7-6(1) 6-4

Final

Sebastian Baez (6) (Argentina) v Jiri Lehecka (5) (Czech Republic)

Baez won their previous match, in a Davis Cup qualifier between Argentina and the Czech Republic in 2022.

First ATP final for Lehecka.

In this final, the players exchanged service breaks in games four and five of the opening set.

Baez broke again in the seventh game to lead 4-3.

When serving for the set at 5-4, Baez found himself down 0-40.

He saved the three break points and one more after that.

Eventually he converted the second of two set points and led 6-4.

In set two service breaks were exchanged in games two and three.

Baez broke again in the fifth game to lead 3-2.

No more break chances and Baez served out the match 6-4 6-3.

This was title number four for Sebastian Baez, third this year, and second this month following victory in the Austrian Open.

Sorribes Tormo wins Cleveland title

Final day in Cleveland.

2023 Tennis in the Land, a WTA 250 tournament, on Hard Outdoor, Cleveland, Ohio, USA, 20-26 August 2023.

2022 champion (not defending):

Liudmila Samsonova who defeated Aliaksandra Sasnovich (7) 6-1 6-3

Final:

Ekaterina Alexandrova (4) (Russia) v lucky loser Sara Sorribes Tormo (Spain)

Sorribes Tormo won the only previous match between the players - 2016 qualifying in Linz.

In the final players exchanged service breaks in the opening two games.

Sorribes Tormo saved a break point in the fourth game before holding serve.

Alexandrova broke the Spanish serve in game six to lead 4-2.

Consolidation came in the following game for 5-2 but not before a break point was saved.

Sorribes Tormo held serve, forcing Alexandrova to serve it out.

The fourth seed did just that and led 6-3.

Alexandrova broke serve in the fifth game of set two to lead 3-2.

Sorribes Tormo broke back to love in the eighth game and drew level at 4-4.

She then saved a break point en route to a 5-4 lead.

Alexandrova was broken when serving to stay in the set, and Sorribes Tormo tied the match at 3-6 6-4, having won the last four games of set two.

Alexandrova broke serve in the third game of the decider and led 2-1.

Successive service breaks in games six to eight meant that games were level at 4-4.

Sorribes Tormo saved a break point and held for 5-4.

Serving to stay in he match, Alexandrova saved three match points but not a fourth, and day was done.

Sara Sorribes Tormo was victorious 3-6 6-4 6-4.

This was title number two for Sara - her first came in Mexico in March 2021.

ATP - Winston-Salem semi finals

Semi final day in Winston-Salem.

2023 Winston-Salem Open, an ATP 250 tournament, on Hard Outdoor, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA, 20-26 August 2023.

2022 champion (not defending):

Adrian Mannarino who defeated Laslo Djere 7-6(1) 6-4

Semi final results:

Sebastian Baez (6) defeated Borna Coric (1) 6-3 6-7(4) 7-6(2)

Jiri Lehecka (5) received a walkover from wildcard Sebastian Korda (3) 

Final will be between:

Sebastian Baez (6) (Argentina) v Jiri Lehecka (5) (Czech Republic)

WTA - Cleveland semi finals

Semi final day in Cleveland.

2023 Tennis in the Land, a WTA 250 tournament, on Hard Outdoor, Cleveland, Ohio, USA, 20-26 August 2023.

2022 champion (not defending):

Liudmila Samsonova who defeated Aliaksandra Sasnovich (7) 6-1 6-3

Semi final results:

Ekaterina Alexandrova (4) defeated Zhu Lin 7-5 6-2

Lucky loser Sara Sorribes Tormo defeated Tatjana Maria 6-4 6-3

Final will be between:

Ekaterina Alexandrova (4) (Russia) v lucky loser Sara Sorribes Tormo (Spain)