The latest US Open draw in New York has set up a potential showdown between two of the sport's biggest names, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, while British hopeful Arthur Fery finds himself staring at a daunting first‑round encounter with Italy's 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti. Alcaraz, the defending champion, will tip‑off his campaign against Ukraine's Roman Safiullin. A win would place the Spaniard on a trajectory that could see him meet Djokovic in the semifinals, assuming the Serb also advances. Djokovic, who is chasing an elusive 25th Grand Slam title, opens against Argentina's world No.
48 Mariano Navone. The victor of that match will then face either Matteo Berrettini or Stan Wawrinka, the latter playing his final Grand Slam before retirement. The draw outlines a possible path for Alcaraz that includes a second‑round clash with either Brooksby or Faria, a third‑round meeting with Arnaldi or Wu, a quarter‑final against Shelton, Fils, Lehecka or Norrie, and a semifinal that could feature Djokovic, Medvedev, Tiafoe or Nakashima before a potential final against a field that includes Zverev, Auger‑Aliassime, Cobolli, De Minaur or Fritz. For Djokovic, the route is equally intricate: after Navone, he could meet Berrettini or Wawrinka, then face Etcheverry or Landaluce, followed by a quarter‑final against Nakashima, Rublev or Michelsen, and a semifinal that might pit him against Alcaraz, Shelton, Fils or Bublik before the same possible final lineup.
Fery, a Wimbledon semifinalist who missed out on a US Open seeding, now faces a steep climb. Musetti, a quarter‑finalist last year, returns from an injury lay‑off that kept him out of the Rome tournament and limited his play in Canada, leaving him potentially rusty but still a dangerous opponent.
Former British player Naomi Broady commented on Sky Sports, noting that while the match will be challenging, Fery's form this year makes his ceiling difficult to gauge. She added that Musetti's recent absence from competition could create an interesting dynamic, with both players eager to prove themselves on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows. Broady also weighed in on Alcaraz's opening match, pointing out that Safiullin is a powerful hitter and that the best‑of‑five format will test the Spaniard's recovering wrist. She questioned whether Alcaras's wrist can endure the longer format, highlighting the physical stakes of a Grand Slam return after injury.
Other notable match‑ups include world No. 33 Cameron Norrie, who reached the Los Cabos semifinals and the Montreal fourth round, taking on 22‑year‑old Luca Van Assche, a Belgian‑born Frenchman ranked seven spots below him. British No.
3 Jan Choinski meets Dutch qualifier Botic van de Zandschulp, who sits at world No. 71.
With world No. 1 Jannik Sinner sidelined by injury, Wimbledon finalist Alexander Zverev assumes the top seed in the men’s draw and opens against Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego.
On the women’s side, defending champion and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka aims for a third consecutive US Open title, opening against Colombia’s Camila Osorio. Sabalenka has struggled on the North American hard‑court swing but could encounter Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova in the quarters if she continues her run.
American sensation Coco Gauff, seeded fourth after a Cincinnati title, faces Turkish player Zeynep Sonmez in the first round. Gauff is positioned in the bottom half of the draw and could meet Amanda Anisimova in the quarterfinals. British player Katie Boulter starts her campaign against American wild‑card Carol Lee, ranked 143, with a potential second‑round bout against Wimbledon finalist and US Open mixed‑doubles champion Karolina Muchova.
Six other British players—Fran Jones, Harriet Dart, Heather Watson, Jacob Fearnley, Toby Samuel and Harry Wendelken—are battling for a place in the qualifying rounds. The draw also revived a what‑could‑have‑been scenario involving Serena Williams. When her sister Venus received a wild card at age 46, the USTA initially reserved a spot that would have gone to Serena had she chosen to compete in the singles main draw for the first time since 2022.
Instead, Serena opted to play only doubles, and the final wild card was awarded to American Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion. On Thursday, Venus Williams was drawn against Kenin, while American Jessica Pegula opened against Elena‑Gabriela Ruse, a potential second‑round opponent. Other marquee matches include Cincinnati champion Arthur Fils versus two‑time Grand Slam finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas, and veteran Stan Wawrinka—who earned a wild card for his last Grand Slam—taking on Matteo Berrettini, the 2021 Wimbledon runner‑up and a consistent performer on the big stages. Broady remarked that Berrettini’s powerful serve could give him a slight edge on grass, but the hard‑court setting at the US Open promises a different tactical battle.
The US Open coverage will be live on Sky Sports starting August 30, with streaming available contract‑free via NOW and the Sky Sports app. Fans can also catch the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from September 25‑27, broadcast live on Sky Sports.