US Open Draw: Alcaraz Could Meet Sinner In QFs, Djokovic Learns Path

Following the release of the draw on Thursday, reigning US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz will start his title defense against Dominik Koepfer and could face sixth seed Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals in a rematch of their thrilling 2022 New York match.

Top seed Alcaraz, who is attempting to win his third major title at the hard-court Slam, arrives in New York after a final run in Cincinnati. The 20-year-old is seeded to play 16th seed Cameron Norrie in the fourth round and is in the same half as third seed Daniil Medvedev, who would face him in the semi-finals.

Medvedev, 27, won his first major title at the US Open in 2021.He faces Attila Balazs in the first round and could face Toronto finalist Alex de Minaur in the fourth round. Andrey Rublev, a long-time friend, could be a quarter-final opponent.

In the bottom half, Novak Djokovic, the 23-time major champion, will face Frenchman Alexandre Muller in the first round. The three-time New York champion, 36, is in the same quarter as seventh seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, who could face American Taylor Fritz in the fourth round. Tsitsipas takes on former World No. 3 Milos Raonic in the first round.

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Djokovic is seeded to face Laslo Djere in the third round and Felix Auger-Aliassime, a 2021 semi-finalist, in the fourth round.

Casper Ruud, last year's finalist, is also in the bottom half and will face fourth seed Holger Rune in the quarter-finals. Djokovic is seeded to face the winner if he makes it to the final four.

Ruud of Norway is currently ranked 10th (2,580 points) in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin and will be looking for a strong showing in New York to boost his Nitto ATP Finals chances. Rune is currently in seventh place (3,045 points) and is hoping to make his debut at the prestigious year-end competition.

Alexander Zverev, the 2020 finalist, is in the top quarter of the draw. He is currently eighth in the ATP Live Race To Turin (2,670 points). He faces Aleksandar Vukic in the first round and could face Sinner in the fourth.

American Fritz will face countryman Steve Johnson, while Frances Tiafoe will face American wild card Learner Tien. Andy Murray, the 2012 champion, takes on Corentin Moutet in the first round and could face 19th seed Grigor Dimitrov in the second.

Arthur Fils, Ben Shelton, and Luca Van Assche will be hoping to improve their chances of qualifying for the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Fils takes on Tallon Griekspoor, the 24th seed, while American Shelton takes on Pedro Cachin. Van Assche will face Nicolas Jarry, the 23rd seed.

SportsLigue