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Alcaraz, Carlos

US Open 2024: Top Contenders and Major Threats for Defending Champions

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

As the last and final Grand Slam of the calendar year, the US Open 2024 is set to welcome a fresh new trend in ATP, new champions in the WTA circuit, and an abnormal amount of surface changes in the last few months. The tournament, scheduled to start on Monday in New York, promises to be an exciting affair with top title contenders and major threats for each of the defending champions. Can Novak Djokovic negate the Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner threat to lift an unprecedented 25th major? Can Coco Gauff be the first American since Serena Williams in 2014 to script back-to-back title haul?

Key Takeaways:

  • Novak Djokovic faces a fairly tricky draw, including fellow Serb Laslo Djere, Montreal champion Alexei Popyrin, and one between Frances Tiafoe or Ben Shelton in the fourth round.
  • Carlos Alcaraz has been handed a relatively easy draw, with his first biggest threat coming in the quarters against Hubert Hurkacz or Alex de Minaur.
  • Jannik Sinner has been impacted by off-field trouble, pertaining to the doping controversy, and needs to overcome it to claim the second Slam of his career.
  • Coco Gauff has been handed the most difficult draw, facing No. 27 Elina Svitolina in the third round, Emma Navarro in the fourth, and reigning Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova in the quarters.
  • Aryna Sabalenka has emerged as a favorite for the title, having won her second title of the year in Cincinnati, and has a relatively smooth sailing through her quarter, with Madison Keys being her only threat in the fourth round.

Statistics:

  • Novak Djokovic has 24 majors and 350 weeks at number one spots.
  • Carlos Alcaraz has won both the last two Slams and stands on the verge of being the first since Rafael Nadal in 2010 and third overall to win French-Wimbledon-U.S. in the same calendar year.
  • Jannik Sinner has won his sixth career ATP Challenger title at the Heilbronn Neckarcup in June.
  • Aryna Sabalenka has 20 WTA titles and 20 weeks at number one.

Sources:

  • Hindustan Times.
  • HT Digital Content Services.

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