Novak Djokovic discovers US Open fate as draw hands champions favourable start

24 August 2023 , 18:45

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Novak Djokovic will play in his first US Open since 2021 (Image: Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Novak Djokovic will take on Alexandre Muller in the first round of the US Open as he returns to the event for the first time since 2021.

Flushing Meadows will once again play host to the final grand slam of the year, with a number of the world’s best looking to add a major title to their collection. Djokovic did not feature last year after being denied entry to the United States due to not being vaccinated against COVID-19.

But the Serbian will be back in Queens and looking to win a 24th grand slam title - and he is joined by defending champion Carlos Alcaraz who has been handed a first round tie against Dominik Koepfer. Alcaraz won his first grand slam in the US nearly 12 months ago and followed that up by beating Djokovic in the Wimbledon final in July.

Alcaraz and Djokovic are on opposite sides of the draw, and cannot meet until the final on September 10 with their routes to the showpiece event featuring some potentially high-profile matches. For Alcaraz, he could face No.16 seed Cameron Norrie in the fourth round, as well as Wimbledon semi-finalist Jannik Sinner in the last-eight. As for Djokovic, there is the possibility he could face Stefanos Tsitspias in the quarter-final and Wimbledon quarter-finalist Holger Rune in the semi-final

Former British No.1 Andy Murray was unseeded going into the draw but avoided a seed and will instead face Corentin Moutet. Another unseeded player, Dominic Thiem, will take on No.25 seed Alexander Bublik while Stanislas Wawrinka will play unseeded Yoshihito Nishioka. In the women's draw, Iga Swiatek goes into the tournament as defending champion and the No.1 seed will face unseeded Rebecca Peterson in the first round.

Novak Djokovic won Australian Open despite playing with major hamstring tear

No.1 seed Iga Swiatek goes into the 2023 US Open as the defending champion (Robert Prange/Getty Images)

Coco Gauff goes into the US Open in good form having won the Cincinnati Masters last Sunday. The 19-year-old has been handed the No.6 seed and will face a qualifier who is yet to be confirmed. Venus Williams is preparing for her 24th appearance at the US Open, having first played in the tournament in 1997. The 43-year-old will play Paula Badosa in the first round.

Caroline Wozniacki, meanwhile, is making his first grand slam appearance since returning to the sport. She retired from professional tennis in 2020 and will face a qualifier in the first round of the tournament, as she bids to win her first major title since the Australian Open in 2018. Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova will be the No.9 seed and play a qualifier in the first round. Meanwhile, finalist Ons Jabeur has been handed the No.5 seed and has been given a first-round draw against unseeded Camila Osorio.

Mark Wakefield