Prime seed Jannik Sinner faces powerful competitors within the U.S. Open. File
| Picture Credit score: Reuters
Prime seed Jannik Sinner, whose doping case has dominated the lead-up to the U.S. Open, faces a troublesome street to the New York ultimate whereas in-form Aryna Sabalenka may also be examined, in line with the draw launched on Thursday.
Sinner received in Cincinnati this week to assert his fifth title of a breakout season earlier than the revelation that he prevented a ban over two optimistic checks in March because it was dominated the Italian bore no fault or negligence for the violations.
The Australian Open champion is projected to face 14th seed Tommy Paul within the fourth spherical, 2021 winner Daniil Medvedev (5) within the quarter-finals, Carlos Alcaraz (3) within the semis and defending champion Novak Djokovic (2) within the ultimate.
Djokovic, who has not competed since profitable the gold medal on the Paris Olympics, will start in opposition to a qualifier and is predicted to fulfill Andrey Rublev within the quarter-finals and fourth seed Alexander Zverev within the semis.
Reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion Alcaraz, who misplaced the opening match of his solely U.S. Open tune-up occasion, may also begin in opposition to a qualifier and will face Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz within the quarter-finals.
Among the many first-round matches to look at on the boys’s facet is big-hitting Ben Shelton, who electrified the house crowds final 12 months with a spirited run to the semis, in opposition to 2020 champion Dominic Thiem, who’s retiring on the finish of the 12 months.
Within the ladies’s draw, prime seed Iga Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam winner who reached the fourth spherical final 12 months, will begin in opposition to a qualifier and faces a possible quarter-final conflict in opposition to Canadian Open champion and Cincinnati runner-up Jessica Pegula.
Second seed Sabalenka, trying to go one additional after ending runner-up in New York final 12 months, returns well-rested after a mid-year break to give attention to her well being. She will probably be assured about her probabilities after profitable the tune-up occasion in Cincinnati.
Sabalenka’s fortnight might embrace a third-round date with Ekaterina Alexandrova (29) adopted by a fourth-round conflict with Madison Keys (14), Zheng Qinwen (7) within the quarters, defending champion Coco Gauff (3) within the semis and Swiatek within the ultimate.
Gauff, who final 12 months turned the primary American to win a U.S. Open singles title since 2017, will start her title protection in opposition to Frenchwoman Varvara Gracheva.
Among the many extra high-profile first-round ladies’s matchups, four-times Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka, in her first New York look since turning into a mom, will face Latvian tenth seed and former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko.
Wimbledon and French Open runner-up Jasmine Paolini will face 2019 U.S. Open champion Bianca Andreescu for a 3rd consecutive Grand Slam.
The U.S. Open will probably be performed Aug. 26-Sept. 8.
