The U.S. Open draw has been announced, and the favorites to win the final Grand Slam of the tennis calendar are no surprise. Defending champion Iga Świątek is the favorite on the women’s side, while Novak Djokovic is leading the pack on the men’s side. Let’s take a closer look at the odds and some highlights from the draw.
U.S. Open Women’s Singles Odds
Iga Świątek is seeking her fifth Grand Slam title and is the favorite to win the U.S. Open. She has already won three French Open titles, including this year’s championship, and the U.S. Open last year. While she is the favorite at every Grand Slam, her dominance is not as overwhelming on surfaces other than clay.
Aryna Sabalenka is the closest competitor to Świątek in the odds. Sabalenka has shown immense talent but has struggled with inconsistency, particularly with her serve, against top players. However, she has made at least the semifinals in the last four majors and won this year’s Australian Open, which was played on a hard court.
Following Świątek and Sabalenka, there is a more jumbled field of contenders. Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, and Jessica Pegula make up the next tier of players. Gauff recently had a stunning victory at the Cincinnati tournament and made it to the quarterfinals of last year’s U.S. Open.
U.S. Open Men’s Singles Odds
Novak Djokovic holds the edge over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s singles odds. Despite Alcaraz defeating Djokovic in the Wimbledon final just over a month ago, Djokovic’s consistent success in recent Grand Slams makes him the favorite. Djokovic has won six of the past nine Grand Slams he has entered and has made it to the final in eight of them.
Daniil Medvedev, who beat Djokovic in the 2021 U.S. Open final, is the logical third-best player in the odds. Medvedev could potentially face Alcaraz in the semifinals.
Italian Jannik Sinner, who reached the quarterfinals at last year’s U.S. Open and made a semifinal appearance at Wimbledon, is highly respected in the odds. The field drops off significantly after Sinner, with Alexander Zverev being the next player in line with odds more than twice as long as Sinner’s.
Highlights from the Women’s Singles Draw
One of the most exciting potential matchups in the women’s draw is a quarterfinal clash between Iga Świątek and Coco Gauff. Świątek, the world’s top-ranked player, will face off against the American rising star who recently won a Masters-level tournament in Cincinnati. Gauff defeated Świątek in three sets during the Cincinnati semifinals, setting the stage for a potentially memorable match on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Another marquee quarterfinal could feature Aryna Sabalenka against Ons Jabeur. Jabeur eliminated Sabalenka in the Wimbledon semifinals, and both players are considered strong contenders in every tournament.
The early rounds also offer intriguing matchups. Caroline Wozniacki, who recently came out of retirement, will compete in her first major since returning. She will face a qualifier in the first round and could potentially meet No. 11 seed Petra Kvitova in the second round.
Other notable matches include Sloane Stephens, the 2017 U.S. Open champion, facing French Open semifinalist Beatriz Haddad Maia in a marquee first-round match. Leylah Fernandez, last year’s finalist, opens against No. 22 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, with Bianca Andreescu potentially awaiting the winner in the second round.
Highlights from the Men’s Singles Draw
While Carlos Alcaraz won’t face Novak Djokovic until the final, his quarter of the draw includes tough opponents such as Jannik Sinner, Stan Wawrinka, Alexander Zverev, and Andy Murray. Although Alcaraz is still considered a strong contender, this section of the draw could pose challenges. Murray could potentially meet Grigor Dimitrov in the second round, with Zverev likely waiting in the third round.
No. 10 seed Frances Tiafoe, who reached the semifinals last year, faces a tough path. He could potentially meet No. 5 seed Casper Ruud in the fourth round and then No. 4 seed Holger Rune in the quarters.
Christopher Eubanks, who reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, is the No. 28 seed at the U.S. Open. He could potentially face Stefanos Tsitsipas in the third round.
As the U.S. Open approaches, tennis fans can look forward to thrilling matches and potential upsets. With favorites like Iga Świątek and Novak Djokovic leading the way, it promises to be an exciting tournament for both players and spectators alike.
(Photo of Iga Świątek: Robert Prange / Getty Images)