Djokovic Learns Path To Elusive Grand Slam
Novak Djokovic’s quest to complete the Grand Slam will begin against a qualifier following Thursday’s release of the US Open draw. In the second round he could face big-hitting German all-court player Jan-Lennard Struff, who took a set from the Serb at the 2020 Australian Open.
In the third round, the World No. 1 could meet former finalist Kei Nishikori or 27th seed David Goffin and in the fourth round is seeded to meet either Aslan Karatsev, whom he defeated in the Australian Open semi-finals, or Australian 14th seed Alex de Minaur.
Should Djokovic reach the quarter-finals, he could meet sixth seed Matteo Berrettini, whom he beat in the Wimbledon final or Polish 10th seed Hubert Hurkacz.
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Interesting first-round matches include World No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas against 2012 champion and former World No. 1 Andy Murray.
Who’s ready for this Round 1 blockbuster? ?♂️@steftsitsipas and @andy_murray will meet for the first time in their careers!#USOpen pic.twitter.com/DjF8zS31x8
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 26, 2021
Unseeded Australian Nick Kyrgios, perhaps the most dangerous floater, will play gritty Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, while Briton Cameron Norrie, who is enjoying a breakout season, will play 18-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz.
Second seed Daniil Medvedev will play French veteran Richard Gasquet. Top-ranked American John Isner will face 20-year-old countryman Brandon Nakashima.
Fourth seed Alexander Zverev, who is riding an 11-match winning streak and who toppled Djokovic en route to the Tokyo Olympics gold medal, could meet the 20-time Grand Slam champion in the semi-finals.
The German opens against big-serving American Sam Querrey. He is seeded to meet Alexander Bublik in the third round, #NextGenATP Jannik Sinner in the fourth round and seventh-seeded Canadian Denis Shapovalov or ninth-seeded Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta in the quarter-finals.
Some ? first-round matches this year at the #USOpen
?? Tsitsipas v. Murray ??
?? Medvedev v. Gasquet ??
?? Bautista Agut v. Kyrgios ??
?? Ruud v. Tsonga ??
?? Norrie v. Alcaraz ??
?? Isner v. Nakashima ??— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 26, 2021
Third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas could see plenty of British action, facing Murray in the first round and potentially Cameron Norrie in the third round. The Greek is seeded to meet Chilean Cristian Garin in the fourth round and in-form Russian fifth seed Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals.
Rublev, a finalist last week at the Western & Southern Open, begins against a qualifier. On paper, Rubelv would appear to have a smooth path to the fourth round, where he could face the last man standing from a tricky section that includes 12th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, first-round combatants Bautista Agut and Kyrgios, and Finn Emil Ruusuvuori.
If he wins his opener against Gasquet, 2019 finalist Medvedev is seeded to meet 2014 champion Marin Cilic in the third round. In the fourth round the Russian could meet 15th seed Grigor Dimitrov, in what would be a replay of their 2019 semi-final, or 24th seed Daniel Evans.
Diego Schwartzman, who could play former finalist Kevin Anderson in the second round, is seeded to meet Medvedev in the quarter-finals.
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