By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday August 23, 2023
The US Open ought to ship the dynamic last the world desires: A climactic main conflict between the world’s prime two.
Novak Djokovic denied championship level out-dueling world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in a dizzying Cincinnati epic last on Sunday. That Queen Metropolis thriller might be prelude to a Queens conflict coming subsequent month.
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ESPN analyst John McEnroe sees defending US Open champion Alcaraz and reigning Roland Garros and Australian Open champion Djokovic going through off for the third time in a Grand Slam within the US Open last.
In a Zoom name with the media at this time to advertise ESPN’s first ball to final ball US Open protection beginning on Monday, August twenty eighth at midday on ESPN, McEnroe mentioned it is a two-man race for US Open supremacy with 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev the third favourite for Flushing Meadows.
“I’d additionally say Novak’s in an unimaginable spot,” McEnroe instructed the media on ESPN’s Zoom name. “I believe he is dealt with it extremely properly, truly. The truth that he is handed Nadal and Federer is wonderful, and the way in which he appears, he appears like he will win a number of Slams extra.
“It looks like he may go on for one more two, three, 4 years at this fee. It is outstanding what we’re watching, and positively him and Alcaraz are the 2 guys coming in that you just determine the percentages are fairly good that a kind of two goes to win it.”
So what occurs if both three-time US Open champion Djokovic, who owns an 81-13 lifetime report in New York, or the 20-year-old Alcaraz, who’s aiming to defend a Grand Slam title for the primary time, falter?
McEnroe cites two darkish horses to look at: 2022 semifinalist Frances Tiafoe and world No. 6 Jannik Sinner, who battled Alcaraz earlier than bowing 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-7(0), 7-5, 6-3, in a US Open quarterfinal conflict that formally ended at 2:50 a.m.
“I needed to choose one man, Sinner would in all probability be the man that is in that place to make that step, which he hasn’t made,” McEnroe instructed Tennis now. “He received to a semis lastly, misplaced to Novak. To me he is positioned himself properly. It is onerous to check.
“I might like to see Francis get his act collectively and do one thing, however he received to the semis, so he will really feel strain even attempting to duplicate that. However it might be unimaginable for an American participant to make a breakthrough to me, however the chances are that it is not going to occur.
“You possibly can see it is going to be Djokovic or Alcaraz, Medvedev is the following man, after which Sinner. After that, it is going to be fairly powerful to check a man going all the way in which.”
Picture credit score: Matthew Stockman/Getty
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