US Open Draw Sets Up Possible Alcaraz-Djokovic Showdown

Last Updated:August 21, 2025, 23:27 IST

Carlos Alcaraz may face Novak Djokovic in the US Open semi-finals, with Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka leading the singles draws.

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic (Reuters)

Carlos Alcaraz was set up for a potential US Open clash with Novak Djokovic on Thursday as the draw for the men’s and women’s singles tournaments was unveiled.

Spanish sensation Alcaraz faces a challenging path to the final, where he might face world number one Jannik Sinner at Flushing Meadows.

Alcaraz could dethrone Sinner as the world number one depending on his performance in New York over the next two weeks, starting on Sunday.

The Spaniard will commence his campaign against American Reilly Opelka, known for his powerful serve, in the first round.

If the tournament proceeds according to seedings, the 2022 US Open champion will encounter former world number one Djokovic in the semi-finals.

Djokovic, aiming for a record 25th Grand Slam title, will start his quest against Learner Tien in the first round.

Seventh seed Djokovic leads Alcaraz 5-3 in previous encounters and defeated the Spaniard in four sets during the quarter-finals of the Australian Open earlier this year.

However, the 38-year-old Serbian’s form remains uncertain heading into the final Grand Slam of the year as he has not played since reaching the semi-finals at Wimbledon last month.

Top seed and defending champion Sinner will begin his campaign against Czech player Vit Kopriva in the opening round.

The 24-year-old Italian, who retired during the first set of his Cincinnati Open final against Alcaraz earlier this week, could face Britain’s Jack Draper in the quarter-finals.

In the women’s singles draw, world number one and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka will start her campaign against Switzerland’s Rebeka Masarova, ranked 109th in the world.

Second seed Iga Swiatek, the reigning Wimbledon champion and 2022 US Open winner, is in the opposite side of the draw and begins her quest for a seventh Grand Slam singles title against Colombia’s Emiliana Arango.

Swiatek’s potential path to the final might see her face 2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff in the semi-finals. Gauff will meet Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic in the first round.

Elsewhere, Venus Williams faces a tough challenge if she aims to extend what could be her farewell US Open appearance beyond the first round.

The 45-year-old US tennis icon received a wild card entry into the first round of the tournament, 28 years after reaching her first US Open final as a 17-year-old in 1997.

Williams will take on Czech 11th seed Karolina Muchova in the first round.

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First Published:

August 21, 2025, 23:27 IST

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