Djokovic US Open favourite after Sinner, Alcaraz draw same half

World No.1 Jannik Sinner has been drawn in the same half of the US Open bracket as four-time Grand Slam winner Carlos Alcaraz, with the men’s singles draw being announced on Thursday afternoon in New York.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic will avoid playing either of the year’s two in-form players before the final, instead facing a potential semi against world No.4 Alexander Zverev.

Plenty of fascinating first-round matchups have been revealed too.

Former world No.3 Stefanos Tsitsipas takes on Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis, big-serving American Reilly Opelka is up against Olympic bronze medallist Lorenzo Musetti, and 2023 semi-finalist Ben Shelton clashes with 2020 champion Dominic Thiem.

Tough draw for world No.1 Sinner

The biggest story coming out of the US Open draw reveal is how challenging Sinner’s section of the draw is.

The Italian begins against Mackenzie McDonald — a relatively straightforward start, though the American did claim four top 10 wins last season.

In the second round, he will likely come up against in-form youngster Alex Michelsen.

If he can withstand the challenge, his possible third-round opponent is the big-serving No.26 seed Nicolas Jarry.

On the other side of Jarry, either No.24 seed Arthur Fils or No.14 seed Tommy Paul await.

Win this round-of-16 match, and Sinner will face a potential quarter-final against 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev or two-time Grand Slam finalist Tsitsipas.

After that, there is the prospect of playing French Open and Wimbledon champion Alcaraz, just to make the final.

This arduous path has caused Sinner’s odds to leap at top tennis bookmakers.

Bovada now has the 23-year-old at +300 — an increase of 33% from his pre-draw odds.

Djokovic now favourite to win US Open

The big beneficiary of Thursday’s draw announcement is Djokovic.

The Serbian was on the third line of betting at +300 but has now jumped into outright favouritism at +175.

He begins against a qualifier, then will face either Laslo Djere or Jan-Lennard Struff in the second round.

Australian Alexei Popyrin is a potential third-round opponent.

In the round of 16, Djokovic will likely play an American, with Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe seeded to meet him.

A quarter-final against either No.6 seed Andrey Rublev or No.9 seed Grigor Dimitrov awaits, with a semi-final against Zverev on the other side.

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