US Open Preview 2023
Men’s Draw
Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic find themselves at opposite ends of the US Open draw but all the speculation ahead of the tournament centres around these two men.
Alcaraz will begin his title defence against Germany’s Dominik Koepfer, with the first seeded player that Alcaraz could meet is Great Britain’s Dan Evans in the third round.
No 16 seed Cameron Norrie bracketed to meet Alcaraz in the fourth round.
The Spaniard has potentially tough last eight and semi-final matches in store if seeding holds as he is drawn against hard court Masters champions Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev respectively.
Andy Murray faces Corentin Moutet to start but could be in for nothing but seeds from then out as he is drawn alongside No 19 seed Grigor Dimitrov, then Zverev and Sinner in the last 16.
Meanwhile, Djokovic doesn’t have any notable early threats to deal with and his first seeded opponent could be compatriot Laslo Djere.
The other seeds in Djokovic’s section are Felix Auger-Aliassime, Francisco Cerundolo.
The draw has been relatively kind to Djokovic, while Alcaraz’s path to the final looks to be the tougher of to two top seeds.
But, the sensational Alcaraz will still find a way in New York and claim Grand Slam number three of a career that promises so much.
Women’s Draw
Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff have sounded a warning on behalf of the home contingent ahead of the US Open which will also stage the battle for the WTA No 1 slot.
Iga Swiatek, who lost to Gauff in Cincinnati last week, could face the American again in the last eight of the US Open.
Swiatek’s championship defence starts against unheralded Swede Rebecca Peterson.
Gauff meanwhile opens against a qualifier and might face rising 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva in the second round. Gauff is yet to lose to a player younger than her in four meetings.
The top quarter could feature a round of 64 clash between double Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and former World No 1 Caroline Wozniacki, who is returning to the sport after a three-year absence.
Former Grand Slam finalists Danielle Collins and Jennifer Brady are also hovering in a top quarter fraught with danger for Swiatek and the other seeds.
Swiatek could face 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the last four.
Anchoring the draw is Aryna Sabalenka who is out to move up from being the long-time No 2 to Swiatek.
Sabalenka has chipped away at Swiatek’s advantage and could secure the spot even if she doesn’t go all the way.
She won’t be preoccupied by the thought of a possible final against Swiatek or semi-final against Pegula just yet though given that she too finds herself in a tricky quarter.
Sabalenka could be in for a quarterfinal rematch with Ons Jabeur, who beat the Belarussian in the last four at Wimbledon.
Pegula will start her US Open tilt against Camila Giorgi of Italy with the American holding a healthy 8-2 lead in the head-to-head between the players.
But we are going for Sabalenka. She won in Australia and Indian Wells earlier this season so she has form. The Belarussian looks a cracking price at 5/1.
Suggested bets:
Alcaraz to win men’s US Open
Sabalenka to win women’s US Open
