2023 US Open Preview

The fourth and final Tennis major of the year gets underway from the 28th of August at Flushing Meadows, with Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek looking to defend their titles in New York City. From Novak Djokovic to Andy Murray to Venus Williams, the 2023 US Open features a star-studded line-up, and here are the top storylines to follow over the next two weeks at the Billie Jean King Tennis Centre.

Djokovic vs. Alcaraz Round 3?

Carlos Alcaraz earned his maiden Major’s title 12 months ago in New York, beating Casper Ruud in the final to become the youngest male Grands Slam winner since Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard has taken his game to another level since then, rising to the top of the ATP rankings and eclipsing Novak Djokovic in a five-set epic to win Wimbledon.

The Serbian, meanwhile, returns to the US Open for the first time since 2021, having missed last season’s tournament because he was not vaccinated against Covid-19. The 36-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down in 2023, winning the Australian and French Open before missing out on his record-breaking 24^th crown by a whisker to Alcaraz at the All-England Club.

The number two seed did get his revenge on the Spaniard in Cincinnati last week, saving a championship point and coming back from a set down to beat Alcaraz in a thrilling final that lasted nearly four hours. As the top two seeds in the tournament, Djokovic and Alcaraz are set for another collision course at Flushing Meadows to resume their burgeoning rivalry, with a second consecutive Grand Slam final between the pair on the cards.

Can any other ATP stars mount a charge?

While Djokovic and Alcaraz are the two favourites to meet in the final, there are plenty of others who could spring a surprise or two at Flushing Meadows and go all the way. 2021 Champion Daniil Medvedev and 2022 finalist Casper Ruud are always a force on hard courts, while Toronto champion Jannik Sinner is on the cusp of a breakout tournament and has the potential to put together a winning run this autumn in New York.

Swiatek faces intense pressure from local stars for Women’s Singles title

After winning 53 of her 62 matches and claiming four titles in 2023, Iga Swiatek is the favourite to reclaim her women’s singles titles in New York. However, the Polish number one will come under increased pressure from hometown heroes Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula at Flushing Meadows, who swept up the two big WTA titles in the lead-up to the US Open.

Gauff beat Swiatek on her route to victory at Cincinnati and has become a fixture in the top 10 over the last 12 months, giving herself a great chance to win her maiden Grand Slam at the US Open. World number three Pegula, meanwhile, got the better of the top seed during her winning run at the Canadian Open in Montreal and is a strong contender to go all the way in New York.

Other challengers include number two-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina and Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, making this season’s women’s singles battle one of the most keenly contested in recent memory.