A potential Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz battle in the final. The continuation of Coco Gauff‘s red-hot summer on the hard court. The American men’s collective quest to snap the now-20-year major title drought. The celebration of 50 years of equal pay.
The 2023 US Open is absolutely brimming with storylines and players to watch.
After a compelling and wildly entertaining tennis season, we’ve made it to the final Grand Slam of the year — and it could be one for the books.
Sure, there’s no Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer, but tennis seems to have made it to its next chapter and is doing just fine. Will we see Djokovic make history in New York? Will Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek successfully defend their 2022 titles? Could this mark the official coronation of Gauff — or another American — by the end of the fortnight? Here is everything you need to know heading into the 2023 US Open.
Djokovic’s return
After having his quest for his fifth straight Wimbledon title and the elusive Calendar Slam halted by Alcaraz in the final at the All England Club last month, Djokovic makes his return to the US Open following a one-year absence due to pandemic-era travel restrictions into the United States.
And if his performance at the Western & Southern Open — his lone hard-court tuneup event and first on the surface since February — was any indication, he’s ready to avenge his surprising Wimbledon loss. En route to his 95th career title in Cincinnati, Djokovic held off the likes of Taylor Fritz and Alexander Zverev before coming back to win a thrilling and nearly four-hour final against Alcaraz, 5-7, 7-6(7), 7-6(4).
While Djokovic historically hasn’t had the best results in New York in recent years and hasn’t won the title since 2018, he certainly looks poised to contend for his 24th major title, which would give him the most in the Open era. The No. 2 seed in the tournament, he could potentially face Alcaraz, the top seed, in the final — something he couldn’t even resist bringing up during the trophy presentation in New York.
“I hope we meet in New York,” Djokovic said to Alcaraz. “That would be fun — well, for the fans, not for me.”
And, in other good news for Djokovic, as he has no points to defend and trails Alcaraz by just 20 points for the world No. 1 ranking, he will take back the top spot simply by defeating world No. 85 Alexandre Muller in his opening-round match.
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