By BRIAN MAHONEY
Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic will face potential troublesome American opponents after they start their quest for one more U.S. Open title.
Venus Williams, in the meantime, returns to the occasion at age 45 towards No. 11 seed Karolina Muchova, a previous French Open finalist who has reached the semifinals in New York the previous two years.
That was one of many early spotlight matches after the attracts had been performed Thursday for the lads’s and girls’s singles tournaments.
These start Sunday, a day sooner than previously, and a pair of latest U.S. Open champions may very well be examined early.
Alcaraz, the No. 2 seed, begins towards Reilly Opelka. Opelka, a former top-20 participant earlier than accidents, is 6-foot-11 with a strong serve that he rode to the fourth spherical in New York in 2021.
Alcaraz received his lone U.S. Open title the next yr and has gone on so as to add 4 extra Grand Slam titles.
Djokovic owns a males’s document 24 of them, together with 4 on the U.S. Open. Seeded seventh, he’ll face Learner Tien, a 19-year-old left-hander who upset Daniil Medvedev en path to the fourth spherical of this yr’s Australian Open.
Now enjoying sometimes outdoors of the majors at 38 and having fallen to No. 7 within the rankings, Djokovic may should beat 2024 U.S. Open runner-up Taylor Fritz, the No. 4 seed, within the quarterfinals, then Alcaraz within the semifinals and No. 1 Jannik Sinner, the defending champion, within the ultimate.
Williams was given a wild card by the U.S. Tennis Affiliation right into a event the place she received two of her seven Grand Slam singles titles, and would be the oldest participant to compete in singles at Flushing Meadows since 1981.
However she faces somebody who has proven the flexibility to boost her sport within the largest tournaments. Muchova, after falling within the 2023 French Open ultimate, obtained to the semis in New York later that summer season and once more final yr.
No. 3 seed Coco Gauff, who received her first main title within the 2023 U.S. Open, will first face Ajla Tomljanovic, the Australian who beat Williams’ youthful sister, Serena, in her ultimate match in 2022.
The potential quarterfinals on the lads’s aspect are Sinner vs. No. 5 Jack Draper, and No. 3 Alexander Zverev vs. No. 8 Alex de Minaur within the high half of the bracket. The underside half may very well be Alcaraz vs. No. 6 Ben Shelton, and Fritz vs. Djokovic.
The ladies’s quarters may very well be defending champion and No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka vs. No. 7 Jasmine Paolini, and No. 4 Jessica Pegula vs. No. 5 Mirra Andreeva on the highest half. The opposite aspect may see No. 2 Iga Swiatek vs. No. 8 Amanda Anisimova in a rematch of Swiatek’s romp within the Wimbledon ultimate, and Gauff vs. No. 6 Madison Keys, the Australian Open champion.
KYRGIOS WITHDRAWS
Nick Kyrgios withdrew from the U.S. Open on Thursday, the third straight yr the Australian has missed the final Grand Slam event of the season.
Kyrgios has battled accidents lately and had missed a lot of the 2023 and 2024 seasons earlier than attempting to return this yr. After present process wrist and knee surgical procedures, he got here again to play within the Australian Open, however misplaced within the first spherical. That was his first look in any main event because the 2022 U.S. Open.
Kyrgios had his greatest efficiency in a Grand Slam occasion simply earlier than that, shedding to Novak Djokovic within the Wimbledon ultimate.
As soon as ranked No. 13, he has performed in simply 5 singles matches on the ATP Tour this season, none since Miami in March.
He will probably be changed within the event by a participant who loses within the ultimate phases of qualifying.
Initially Revealed: August 21, 2025 at 12:26 PM EDT
