NEW YORK.- The defending champion Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz were on opposite sides of the U.S. Open bracket after Thursday’s draw, meaning they could meet in another final later this year after Wimbledon and the Paris Olympics.
For that to happen, the third-seeded Spaniard will first have to overcome a semi-final against world number one Jannik Sinner, whose doping case became public this week. Sinner tested positive twice for an anabolic steroid in March but was cleared to compete after it was determined he used the banned substance unintentionally and that it entered his system from a massage by his coach.
Coco Gauff, who won her first Grand Slam title last year in New York, comes in as the third seed and will begin her title defence against Frenchwoman Varvara Gracheva. Gauff and second seed Aryna Sabalenka could meet in the semi-finals after their 2023 final clash.
The US Open starts on Monday and ends on September 8.
Djokovic won his 24th Grand Slam singles title last year at Flushing Meadows and remains stuck with that total after losing in the Australian semifinals to Sinner, who missed the French Open with a knee injury and lost the final to Alcaraz at the All England Club.
In the rematch at the Olympics, Djokovic beat Alcaraz on a pair of tie-break shots for his first gold medal.
The second seed has not played since then. Both Djokovic and Alcaraz will begin their journey against qualifying round opponents. Sinner will face American Mackie McDonald in the first round.
Naomi Osaka, who has won two of her majors at Flushing Meadows and returned this season after being on maternity leave, begins her journey against Jelena Ostapenko (10), champion of the 2017 French Open.
Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 US Open champion who has battled injuries since then, starts against Jasmine Paolini (5), a finalist at this year’s French Open and Wimbledon.
Possible crossings
The quarterfinals of the men’s tournament could see Sinner face 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev; Djokovic face Andrey Rublev (6); Alcaraz face Hubert Hurkacz (7); and 2020 finalist Alexander Zverev face 2022 finalist Casper Ruud.
In the women’s round, the quarterfinals could feature duels between number one Iga Swiatek against Jessica Pegula (6); Sabalenka against Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen; and 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rubakina (4) against Jasmine Paolini.
