2023 US Open player rankings and odds: Djokovic, Gauff, more

It’s time once again for the Chaos Slam.

None of tennis’ biggest tournaments boast the sheer unpredictability of the US Open. In the past nine years, 13 different men and 15 different women have reached the finals — only Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams have done it multiple times in that span — and seven different men and eight women have won the title. There’s evidently something about the buzz of New York (or maybe it’s just the humidity) that brings out both the best and the weirdest moments the sport has to offer.

Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek are your defending champions, and they are among this year’s favorites as well. But no one has repeated as women’s champion since Williams in 2014, and no one has repeated as men’s champ since Roger Federer in 2008. Time to brace ourselves for whatever chaos comes our way. Here are 30 players who could become this year’s main characters.

Tier 1: The favorites

Novak Djokovic
Caesars title odds: +120
Tennis Abstract odds: 41%

Since his most recent US Open title in 2018, Djokovic has won four Australian Opens, three Wimbledons and two French Opens. He was defaulted from the 2020 US Open because he hit a line official with a ball. He lost to Daniil Medvedev in the 2021 finals, falling one win short of a calendar Grand Slam. He was denied entry into the U.S. for last year’s tournament because of his continued refusal to get a COVID vaccination.

But he’s back in the States again, he’s coming off of a thrilling Cincinnati title (which included an unreal, three-set finals victory over Alcaraz), and he’s won 43 of his past 46 sets against players not named Alcaraz. Having already tied Serena Williams for the Open era record of 23 Slam titles, he now looks to tie Margaret Court for the overall record of 24. For as unpredictable as the US Open has been through the years, it’s hard to see anyone but Alcaraz knocking him off course over the next two weeks. He’s in great form, and he’s the greatest men’s player ever.

Carlos Alcaraz
Caesars title odds: +150
Tennis Abstract odds: 26%

The burgeoning rivalry between Alcaraz and Djokovic is an absolute thrill. They have played four times, and each has won twice. They’re 1-1 at Slams. Three of their matches were outright classics, and the fourth — a…