By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday August 23, 2023
The US Open ought to ship the dynamic ultimate the world desires: A climactic main conflict between the world’s high two.
Novak Djokovic denied championship level out-dueling world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in a dizzying Cincinnati epic ultimate on Sunday. That Queen Metropolis thriller might be prelude to a Queens conflict coming subsequent month.
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ESPN analyst John McEnroe sees defending US Open champion Alcaraz and reigning Roland Garros and Australian Open champion Djokovic going through off for the third time in a Grand Slam within the US Open ultimate.
In a Zoom name with the media at present to advertise ESPN’s first ball to final ball US Open protection beginning on Monday, August twenty eighth at midday on ESPN, McEnroe stated it is a two-man race for US Open supremacy with 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev the third favourite for Flushing Meadows.
“I might additionally say Novak’s in an unimaginable spot,” McEnroe instructed the media on ESPN’s Zoom name. “I feel he is dealt with it extremely effectively, truly. The truth that he is handed Nadal and Federer is wonderful, and the best way he seems, he seems like he’ll win a number of Slams extra.
“It looks like he might go on for one more two, three, 4 years at this fee. It is outstanding what we’re watching, and definitely him and Alcaraz are the 2 guys coming in that you just determine the chances are fairly good that a kind of two goes to win it.”
So what occurs if both three-time US Open champion Djokovic, who owns an 81-13 lifetime file in New York, or the 20-year-old Alcaraz, who’s aiming to defend a Grand Slam title for the primary time, falter?
McEnroe cites two darkish horses to observe: 2022 semifinalist Frances Tiafoe and world No. 6 Jannik Sinner, who battled Alcaraz earlier than bowing 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-7(0), 7-5, 6-3, in a US Open quarterfinal conflict that formally ended at 2:50 a.m.
“I needed to decide one man, Sinner would most likely be the man that is in that place to make that step, which he hasn’t made,” McEnroe instructed Tennis now. “He acquired to a semis lastly, misplaced to Novak. To me he is positioned himself effectively. It is arduous to ascertain.
“I might like to see Francis get his act collectively and do one thing, however he acquired to the semis, so he’ll really feel stress even attempting to duplicate that. However it will be unimaginable for an American participant to make a breakthrough to me, however the chances are that it is not going to occur.
“You may see it may be Djokovic or Alcaraz, Medvedev is the following man, after which Sinner. After that, it may be fairly robust to ascertain a man going all the best way.”
Picture credit score: Matthew Stockman/Getty