Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic are projected to meet each other in the semifinals of the upcoming US Open in a repeat of last year’s final-four clash in New York.
Spain’s Alcaraz, seeded second, and fourth-seeded Serbian veteran Novak Djokovic both are in the lower half of the draw revealed by the organisers on Thursday. This year’s US Open will be held from August 30 to September 13.
Alcaraz had defeated Jannik Sinner 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in last year’s summit clash at Flushing Meadows. However, the Italian World No. 1 has pulled of the final Slam of the season due to a knee injury. Alcaraz, too, has not played a singles match since he sustained a wrist injury during the Barcelona Open in April.
Meanwhile, the 39-year-old Djokovic is still searching for a record-breaking 25th Major of his career and first since he lifted the trophy three years ago in New York.
Seven-time Major winner Alcaraz will begin his title defence against Russia’s Roman Safiullin while Djokovic will face Argentina’s Mariano Navone in the first round.
In Sinner’s absence, World No. 2 Alexander Zverev is the top seed. The 29-year-old German, who won his maiden Grand Slam title at Roland Garros this season, will be up against Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego in the opening round.
Zverev is projected to meet third-seeded Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semifinals from the top half of the draw.
If the draw pans out as per the seedings, Djokovic will face seventh seed Daniil Medvedev while Alcaraz will play against eighth seed and local favourite Ben Shelton in the quarterfinal in the bottom half. In the top half, it will be Zverev against sixth-seeded Australian Alex de Minaur and Auger-Aliassime and against Flavio Cobolli, the fifth-seeded Italian and this year’s French Open runner-up.
Switzerland Stan Wawrinka, who is set to end his Grand Slam career in New York after receiving a last-minute wild card, will play against Italy’s Matteo Berrettini. A decade after he beat Djokovic in the final to clinch his third and final Major at the same venue, the 41-year-old Wawrinka could meet the Serbian again but this time, in the second round.
Gael Monfils, the 39-year-old Frenchman also playing the last Major of his career, has a first-round match against Paraguay’s Adolfo Daniel Vallejo.
First-round matches to watch out for
[1] Alexander Zverev (GER) vs Lorenzo Sonego (ITA)
[2] Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) vs Roman Safiullin
[23] Andrey Rublev vs Marin Cilic (CRO)
[WC] Stan Wawrinka (SUI) vs Matteo Berrettini (ITA)
[10] Arthur Fils (FRA) vs Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE)
[WC] Gael Monfils vs Adolfo Daniel Vallejo (PAR)
[13] Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) vs Arthur Fery (GBR)
[8] Ben Shelton (USA) vs Tallon Griekspoor (NED)
Published on Aug 27, 2026
