Not just Alcaraz and Djokovic! Who are the tennis experts’ eyes on ahead of the US Open?

The tennis season has entered a phase dominated by hard surfaces. The highlight of this period will be the US Open. Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz are considered to be the main favourites, but there are other interesting names from tennis experts. Who will the former Wimbledon winner and long-time coach of Serena Williams also look out for?

All the ATP tournaments over the next five weeks have two common attributes. They take place on North American soil and are played on hard surfaces. Their highlight will be the last Grand Slam of the year, the US Open.

This season has been marked to some extent by the duel between Djokovic and Alcaraz. The first two grand slams this year were dominated by the Serbian tennis player, while at Wimbledon the 20-year-old Spaniard rejoiced. These two names are also the main focus ahead of the upcoming US Open.

Other favourites

Patrick Mouratoglou, who was Serena Williams’ coach for ten years, sees at least one other co-favourite on the ATP circuit. For the New York Grand Slam, he also puts Daniil Medvedev alongside the aforementioned duo.

The Russian tennis player is also at home on the hard surface. He has already won the US Open. The French expert puts him on a par with the duo Alcaraz – Djokovic. Thanks to a good end to the grass season, he is also curious about Greek Tsitsipas.

The 2001 Wimbledon winner Goran Ivanisevic, currently Djokovic’s coach, highlights yet another tennis player among his competitors. It is the Italian Jannik Sinner.

According to Ivanisevic, Sinner’s style does not suit Alcaraz. There are now only two players in the world who are capable of playing a long match against the Spaniard. One is Djokovic and the other is Sinner.

Ivanisevic recalls that it is the Italian who managed to win his last duel with the current world number one. In Indiana Wells Sinner defeated Alcaraz 6:7, 6:4, 6:2.

Finally

Daniil Medvedev is great on the hard surface. In the run-up to the clay court season, he managed to record four consecutive final appearances on it. Only in one case he did not win the final. Djokovic, Sinner and Rubljov, for example, have all finished on his racket in that time.

Moreover, the Russian can conjure up some surprises this year. In Rome, he shone with a triumph on his hated clay court. Medvedev’s Wimbledon campaign was also a personal record this year. Putting him on a par with Alcaraz and Djokovic is not nearly as bold as it might seem at first glance.

Jannik Sinner is overshadowed by Alcaraz in the category of the youngest stars on the ATP circuit. Quite rightly so in terms of results, but one has to take into account the fact that every tennis player reaches his peak at a different pace.

This season the Italian has three final appearances which is incomparable to his last year’s result for the same period. His duel with Alcaraz at the US Open last year was a real nerve-wracking affair. The Spaniard finally succeeded and captured his first Grand Slam title.

Given their record and form this year, the Italian is a force to be reckoned with. But one thing is clear, the big clue will be the Masters tournament in Toronto, which is just starting. With the exception of Novak Djokovic, who has chosen a somewhat unexpected strategy.

Sources: ATP, Tennismajors