2023 US Open Men’s Draw Preview: Can Anyone Stop Djokovic v Alcaraz Final?

The draws at the 2023 US Open were unveiled earlier today in New York. We knew that tournament favorites Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic would be on opposite sides, but didn’t know much else.

Alcaraz was handed a very tough road in his title defense while Djokovic could not have had an easer quarter.

2022 finalist Casper Ruud has to like his chances even though he hasn’t been playing well. Ruud and Tiafoe could meet in the quarters.

And former champion Daniil Medvedev will like his road. He’s slated to meet the struggling Andrey Rublev in his quarterfnal.

Here are the Top 16 seeds: 1 Carlos Alcaraz, 2 Novak Djokovic, 3 Daniil Medvedev, 4 Holger Rune, 5 Casper Ruud, 6 Jannik Sinner, 7 Stefanos Tsitsipas, 8 Andrey Rublev, 9 Taylor Fritz, 10 Frances Tiafoe, 11 Karen Khachanov, 12 Alexander Zverev, 13 Alex De Minaur, 14 Tommy Paul, 15 Felix Auger-Aliassime, 16 Cameron Norrie.

CARLOS ALCARAZ QUARTER
Seeds: 1 Alcaraz, 6 Sinner, 12 Zverev, 16 Norrie, 19 Dimitrov, 24 Griekspoor, 26 Evans, 30 Etcheverry
Floaters: Murray, Sonego, Nishioka, Fils, Van De Zandschulp, Wawrinka, Kokkinakis, Shevchenko
Notable openers: Carlos Alcaraz-Dominik Koepfer, Botic Van De Zandschulp-Jordan Thompson, Daniel Elahi Galan-Daniel Evans, Tallon Griekspoor-Arthur Fils, Alexander Shevchenko-Cameron Norrie, Alexander Zverev-Aleksandar Vukic, Andy Murray-Corentin Moutet, Stan Wawrinka-Yoshihito Nishioka, Yannick Hanfmann-Jannik Sinner
Projected 3R matches: 1 Alcaraz – 26 Evans, 24 Griekspoor – 16 Norrie, 12 Zverev – 19 Dimitrov, 30 Etcheverry – 6 Sinner
Notes: In his first Grand Slam title defense, it won’t be easy for Carlos Alcaraz, and this summer it hasn’t been. The 20-year-old has gone the distance in his last seven matches, but figures to get off to a good start this week. Though in the third round it could be Dan Evans, then Cameron Norrie followed by either Alexander Zverev, Jannik Sinner or event Stan Wawrinka. And all three could give Alcaraz trouble. Wawrinka is a former champion, Zverev a former finalist and Sinner had a match point on the Spaniard last year in the quarters. Former champion Andy Murray also figures to cause distress and force a five-setter or two.

DANIIL MEDVEDEV QUARTER
Seeds: 3 Medvedev, 8 Rublev, 11 Khachanov, 13 De Minaur, 17 Hurkacz, 23 Jarry, 27 Coric, 29 Humbert
Floaters: Berrettini, Ruusuvuori, Van Assche, Purcell, Mmoh, Isner, Draper, Monfils
Notable openers: Kei Nishikori-Q/LL, Sebastian Baez-Borna Coric, Nicolas Jarry-Luca Van Assche, Karen Khachanov-Michael Mmoh, Ugo Humbert-Matteo Berrettini, Emil Ruusuvuori-Andrey Rublev
Projected 3R matches: 3 Medvedev – 27 Coric, 23 Jarry – 13 De Minaur, 11 Khachanov – 17 Hurkacz, 29 Humbert – 8 Rublev
Notes: Daniil Medvedev isn’t in top form right now, but his draw in New York won’t require him to be early on. The 2021 winner could face some tricky hurdles in the rising Max Purcell, Borna Coric and Alex De Minaur who he just lost to in Canada. Still, the Russian will like it especially with the up-and-down Andre Rublev, out-of-form Karen Khachanov and Matteo Berrettini plus Hubert Hurkacz looming in the quarters.

HOLGER RUNE QUARTER
Seeds: 4 Rune, 5 Ruud, 10 Tiafoe, 14 Paul, 21 Davidovich Fokina, 22 Mannarino, 25 Bublik, 31 Korda
Floaters: Lehecka, Shelton, Wolf, Karatsev, Thiem
Notable openers: JJ Wolf-Zhizhen Zhang, Marton Fucsovics-Sebastian Korda, Marcos Giron-Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Alexander Bublik-Dominic Thiem, Pedro Cachin-Ben Shelton, Aslan Karatsev-Jiri Lehecka
Projected 3R matches: 5 Ruud – 31 Korda, 22 Mannarino – 10 Tiafoe, 14 Paul – 21 Davidovich Fokina, 25 Bublik – 4 Rune
Notes: After deep runs last year, either Casper Ruud or Frances Tiafoe will lose a ton of points, and maybe both will. But it’s hard to pick a favorite in this quarter. Ruud and Tiafoe haven’t played well this summer and neither has Holger Rune who’s last match win came at Wimbledon. That favorite label could fall on Tommy Paul. The American made the Australian Open semifinals and just beat Alcaraz in Canada. Sebastian Korda, Ben Shelton and Alexander Bublik who faces former champion Dominic Thiem are also interesting.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC QUARTER
Seeds: 7 Tsitsipas, 9 Fritz, 15 Auger Aliassime, 18 Musetti, 20 Cerundolo, 28 Eubanks, 32 Djere
Floaters: Mcdonald, Popyrin, Nakashima, Raonic
Notable openers: Felix Auger Aliassime-Mackenzie McDonald, Laslo Djere-Brandon Nakashima, Alexandre Muller-Novak Djokovic, Stefanos Tsitsipas-Milos Raonic
Projected 3R matches: 7 Tsitsipas – 28 Eubanks, 18 Musetti – 9 Fritz, 15 Auger Aliassime – 20 Cerundolo, 32 Djere – 2 Djokovic
Notes: Novak Djokovic couldn’t have asked for a better draw in his return to the US Open for the first time in two years. It will be a question of how many sets he losses, if any. The Serb will likely meet Mackenzie McDonald who figures to upset the slumping Felix Auger-Aliassime. In the quarters, Djokovic could face American No. 1 Taylor Fritz, Italian teen Lorenzo Musetti or maybe Stefanos Tsitsipas, though the Greek has struggled in New York and could go down in his opener to the returning Milos Raonic! Djokovic hasn’t won the US Open since 2018. Djokovic is trying to win his 24th career Grand Slam title and tie Margaret Court, and return to the No. 1 ranking.

The projected quarterfinals:
1 Alcaraz – 6 Sinner
3 Medvedev – 8 Rublev
5 Ruud – 4 Rune
7 Tsitsipas – 2 Djokovic

The projected R16 looks like:
1 Alcaraz – 16 Norrie
12 Zverev – 6 Sinner
3 Medvedev – 13 De Minaur
11 Khachanov – 8 Rublev
5 Ruud – 10 Tiafoe
14 Paul – 4 Rune
7 Tsitsipas – 9 Fritz
15 Auger Aliassime – 2 Djokovic

Former champions: Alcaraz, Murray, Wawrinka, Medvedev, Thiem, Djokovic(3)
Former finalists: Zverev, Nishikori, Ruud

Last year, (3) Carlos Alcaraz defeated (5) Casper Ruud 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(1), 6-3.

LAST 10 US OPEN CHAMPIONS/FINALS
2022 Carlos Alcaraz d Casper Ruud 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(1), 6-3
2021 Daniil Medvedev d Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-4, 6-4
2020 Dominic Thiem d Alexander Zverev 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(6)
2019 Rafael Nadal d Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4
2018 Novak Djokovic d Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3
2017 Rafael Nadal d Kevin Anderson 6-3, 6-3, 6-4
2016 Stan Wawrinka d Novak Djokovic 6-7(1), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3
2015 Novak Djokovic d Roger Federer 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
2014 Marin Cilic d Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-3, 6-3
2013 Rafael Nadal d Novak Djokovic 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1