2024 US Open: Djokovic Only “Big Three” Member In Men’s Draw

Novak Djokovic, US Open
Novak Djokovic (photo: Jürgen Hasenkopf)

WASHINGTON, August 23, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)

The last time no member of the “Big Three” — Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic —didn’t win a major was 2002. Federer retired in September 2022 and Nadal has decided to skip this year’s US Open to rest and prepare for next month’s Laver Cup in Berlin.

As the US Open begins next Monday, the year’s last major of the 2024 season, it’s the last opportunity for the 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic to win a major this year. He has been idle since winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics earlier this month and has only competed in nine ATP Tour events this season.

Djokovic, who is tied with Margaret Court for most major titles all-time, can further distance himself from Nadal (22) and Federer (20) by successfully defending his 2023 US Open crown. He’s won the title at Flushing Meadows four previous times (2011, 2015, 2018 and 2023).

As Djokovic begins pursuit of a fifth US Open title, the 37-year-old Serbian great (29-7 this season) is seeded second at the bottom of 128-player men’s draw. He drew qualifier Radu Albot of Moldova as his first-round opponent when the main draws were revealed Thursday and will begin defense of his title on Opening Day Monday.

Possible opponents after the first round for Djokovic include: Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany in the second round; No. 28 seed Alexei Popyrin of Australia in the third round; No. 13 seed Ben Shelton of the United States in the fourth round; No. 6 seed Andrey Rublev of Russia in the quarterfinals; No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev of Germany in the semifinals; and No. 1 seed Jannik Sinner in the finals.

Sinner, Alcaraz in same half of draw

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy is seeded first this year. He will begin his quest for a second major this year to go along with his Australian Open title against 140th-ranked American Mackenzie McDonald, whom he is 3-0 lifetime. The Italian’s pathway to a first US Open title could include a quarterfinal showdown with 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev of Russia, who is seeded fifth.

Other seeds in Sinner’s quarter include: No.11 Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece, No. 14 Tommy Paul of the United States, No. 19 Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada, No. 24 Arthur Fils of France, No. 26 Nicolas Jarry of Chile, and No. 31 Flavio Cobolli of Italy.

Meanwhile, reigning Roland-Garros and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz is seeded third and is in the same half of the draw as Sinner. The two young stars – Sinner (23) and Alcaraz (21) – could meet in the semifinals. They played in a memorable 2022 quarterfinal-round match that went five sets and five-plus hours that the Spaniard won. The 2022 US Open titlist will begin against qualifier Li Tu of Australia.

Other seeds in Alcaraz’s quarter include: No. 7 Hubert Hurkacz, No. 10 Alex de Minaur of Australia, No. 16 Sebastian Korda of the United States, No. 22 Alejandro Tabilo of Chile, No. 23 Karen Khachanov of Russia, No. 25 Jack Draper of Great Britain, and No. 30 Matteo Arnaldi of Italy.

Swiatek is top seed in women’s draw 

While reigning Roland-Garros champion and current World No. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland is the top seed and recent Cincinnati Open champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus is seeded second, defending US Open champion Coco Gauff of the United States is the third seed – in Sabalenka’s half of the draw – and No. 4 seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan is in Swiatek’s half.

Swiatek faces lucky loser Kamilla Rakhimova of Russia and Sabalenka plays qualifier Priscilla Hon of Australia in the opening round, while Gauff plays Varvara Gracheva of France and Rybakina takes on qualifier Destanee Aiava of Australia in the first round.

Meanwhile, the story of the women’s draw is the volume of first-round blockbusters featuring former US Open and major champions doing battle from outset. Among them, unranked four-time major champion Naomi Osaka of Japan (2018 and 2020 US Open champion) will face No. 10 seed and former French Open titlist Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia. It’s Osaka’s first appearance at the US Open since becoming a mother.

Also, newly-crowned Paris Olympics gold medalist Zheng Qinwen of China, seeded No. 7, will face American wild card Amanda Anisimova, who was a WTA 1000 finalist earlier this month in Toronto and has climbed into the Top 50 after taking most of last year off for a mental health break. Plus, Roland-Garros and Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini of Italy, who is seeded fifth, will face 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu of Canada. This will be their third meeting this year at a major. Finally, Emma Raducanu of Great Britain, who won the 2021 US Open crown as a qualifier, will face 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin of the United States.

Will 21-year American men’s drought end?

It’s been 82 consecutive majors since Andy Roddick won the 2003 US Open. That’s quite a drought for American men’s tennis.

However, there are five U.S. men currently ranked in the ATP Top 20: No. 12 Taylor Fritz, No. 13 Ben Shelton, No. 14 Tommy Paul, No. 16 Sebastian Korda and No. 20 Frances Tiafoe. Each is seeded at this year’s US Open and any of the quintet is capable of making a deep run at this major.

Fritz begins against Camilo Ugo Carabelli of Argentina. Shelton plays 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem of Austria. Paul starts with Lorenzo Sonego of Italy. Korda faces Corentin Moutet of France and Tiafoe opposes Aleksandar Kovacevic of the United States.

There are 15 Americans in this year’s men’s main draw.

By the numbers

US Open men’s singles draw

US Open women’s singles draw

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