On Thrusday, the US Open men’s singles draw unveiled the potential paths to the crown for the world’s top tennis players, who will compete at the major, running for the first time under a 15-day schedule in 2025.
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are the favorites to win the tournament; on a level of their own, the two forces combined have claimed the past seven Slams.
The top-seeded players could only meet in a potential championship match. If it happens, it would be the fifth time they play against each other this season in a final, the first with the top spot in the men’s rankings at stake.
Sinner will launch his title defense campaign against world No. 87 Vit Kopriva.
Then, he could either meet Toronto quarterfinalist Alexei Popyrin or Finn Emil Ruusuvuori in the second round.
A potential third-round clash with 27th seed Denis Shapovalov is on the cards for the San Candido native, likely to play home hope Tommy Paul in the round of 16.
Further in the draw, he is seeded to face world No. 5 Jack Draper in the quarters and former runner-up Alexander Zverev or Andrey Rublev in the semifinals.
The 24-year-old seemed in good spirits on Thrusday, training for the first time in Arthur Ashe Stadium with Argentine player Francisco Comesana.
The No.1 Italian player arrived in New York after a bittersweet Cincinnati final, where he was forced to retire due to illness (virus) as early as the first set against Alcaraz.
Meanwhile, the Spaniard, drawn in the bottom half, the same quarter as former champions Daniil Medvedev, and Novak Djokovic faces a challenging run for the crown, eager to reclaim the world number one in the process.
The 22-year-old who leads the ATP Race to Turin, nearly 2,000 points above Sinner, is coming off the back of clinching three Masters 1000 (Rome, Monte-Carlo, and Cincinnati), winning six titles overall, thus far this year.
Moreover, he leads the tour with 54 wins, looking fit and ready to shine again in “the city that never sleeps,” where he achieved his maiden career major in 2022.
The two-time Roland-Garros winner will open against big-serving Reilly Opelka, with Chinese player Shang Juncheng or Italian Mattia Bellucci awaiting in the second round.
In the next round, he could meet 32nd seed Luciano Darderi, a player who this season captured three of his four career titles at the tour level, including Marrakech, Bastad, and Umag, all staged on the red clay surface.
In the round of 16, he is likely to face the 13th seed Medvedev, who is not having his best season in 2025 but remains as dangerous as he has always been, playing on a surface that suits his game better.
In addition, a blockbuster between Alcaraz and world No. 6 Ben Shelton is projected for the quarterfinals, followed by a potential eye-catching semifinal featuring last year’s runner-up, Taylor Fritz or Djokovic.
First Round Nail-Biters
Sunday will set off main-draw action in style in Arthur Ashe, opening with sixth seed Shelton playing a lucky loser/qualifier.
Continuing on the men’s side, the second match scheduled to take place at the world’s biggest tennis stage will feature Djokovic squaring off against American Learner Tien for the first time.
The 19-year-old American player is excited to play the Serbian, whom he confessed it’s been “kind of like a childhood dream.”
“It will be surreal to get on court with him,” said Tien. “I’ve said a few times that I would love to play him before he retires. It’s really cool to be able to play him on a stage like this, and not at an ATP 250 or something. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Djokovic, 38, may not enter as the favorite to win the US Open this season, but he means business in Flushing Meadows.
The Olympic gold medalist emerged victorious at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center four times. He most recently lifted the trophy in 2023 after beating Medvedev in an epic three-setter championship match.
The Belgrade-born is bidding to extend his unmatched legacy in the pursuit of a record 25th Slam, contesting his first tournament since the Wimbledon semifinals, when he lost to eventual champion Sinner.
All in all, the world No. 7 advanced to the semifinals in all three of his major appearances this year.
Elsewhere, 23rd seed Alexander Bublik will clash against Marin Cilic, the latter leading their series 3-0.
Tenth seed Lorenzo Musetti is kickstarting his run on North American meeting big-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
The Italian, who cracked into the top 10 this season for the first time, looks to recover lost ground after struggling to find his feet since he made it through the semifinals at Roland-Garros, falling to Alcaraz.