US Open draw: Daniil Medvedev could face Nick Kyrgios early, Rafael Nadal gets cushy draw
Daniil Medvedev and Nick Kyrgios are projected to meet in the fourth round at Flushing Meadows after they both ended up in Section 1 of the US Open draw while Rafael Nadal’s biggest challenges early on will likely come from Cameron Norrie or Andrey Rublev.
World No 1 and defending champion Medvedev is the headline act in Section 1 and he will open his campaign against world No 113 Stefan Kozlov and he is likely to face Kyrgios, who beat him in the second round of the Canadian Open a fortnight ago, in the round of 16
The Australian, though, has a tricky path to navigate. The 23rd seed will no doubt be torn as he will take on his great friend and the man with whom he won this year’s Australian Open men’s doubles title with, Thanasi Kokkinakis, first up.
Kyrgios could potentially face Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut in the third round.
Felix Auger-Aliassime is the man to beat in Section 2 along with 12th seed Pablo Carreno Busta with the sixth-seeded Canadian up against a qualifier while he could meet rising British star Jack Draper in the second round.
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Casper Ruud on a collision course
Fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, up against a qualifier in round one, has 13th seed Matteo Berrettini in his section with former US Open champion Andy Murray also featuring.
Berrettini faces Hugo Dellien in his opener while Murray is up against 24th seed Francisco Cerúndolo.
If all goes according to the form book then Tsitsipas will meet French Open finalist Casper Ruud in the quarter-final round. The Norwegian opens up against Kyle Edmund while 10th seed Taylor Fritz is the projected fourth-round opponent.
Why tennis is losing as much as Novak Djokovic after US Open withdrawal
Young stars Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Borna Coric battle it out
One of the pre-tournament favourites Carlos Alcaraz has also been handed a tough draw as the teenager’s section contains Marin Cilic (15), Dan Evans (20) and Borna Coric (25).
A meeting with Coric, who won the Western & Southern Open on Sunday, could come as early as the third round.
And the player who comes through that section is projected to take on Jannik Sinner in the quarter-final with the 11th seeded Italian’s biggest rival in his section likely to be eighth seed Hubert Hurkacz.
Rafael Nadal the big draw card
Second seed Rafael Nadal starts his campaign against Australian wildcard Rinky Hijikata with Diego Schwartzman (14) or Frances Tiafoe (22) his likely fourth-round opponent.
Seventh seed Norrie or ninth seed Rubelv are projected to provide the firepower in the quarter-final with the winner likely to face either Alcaraz or Sinner in the semi-final.
Latest
-
Tennis News
Andy Murray faces agonising waiting game after ankle injury nightmare
Andy Murray waiting to hear whether he still has a chance to end his career at Wimbledon this summer.
-
ATP Tour
Daniil Medvedev admits it ‘didn’t smell good’ as he mounts amazing Miami comeback
Daniil Medvedev bounced back from a desperate position in the first set tie-break to beat Dominik Koepfer.
-
Tennis News
Final moments of the Novak Djokovic era of dominance were hard to identify
Novak Djokovic’s reign as the king of men’s tennis appeared to be set to run and run – but the mood has changed.
-
Tennis News
Juan Martin del Potro makes Novak Djokovic claim as he weighs in on GOAT debate
“I believe that if he wins a couple more Grand Slams, there will no longer be a discussion.”
-
Tennis News
Emma Raducanu set for another rankings fall – but the only way is up now
Emma Raducanu is projected to tumble down the WTA rankings when the new list is released next week.
-
Tennis News
Gael Monfils makes brutal Carlos Alcaraz admission as he describes facing the Spaniard
“I feel like I’m getting eaten up, but at the same time, I feel like I’m playing well.”
-
Tennis News
Coco Gauff makes Novak Djokovic confession and reveals she modelled key shot after the Serb
“I tried to model it after Novak Djokovic a lot. That’s where that inspiration comes from.”
-
ATP Tour
Lorenzo Musetti told what he needs to do to beat ‘inspirational’ Carlos Alcaraz
“Alcaraz can play through you, he can play around you, he can bring you in so I just don’t know where Musetti goes.”
-
Tennis News
‘Federer, Nadal, Djokovic era will never happen again’ – former star makes ‘brutal change’ claim
“The sooner we accept it, the better. And the sooner the comparisons stop, well, [the] better.”
-
Tennis Features
The 9 oldest No 1s in men’s tennis: Novak Djokovic days away from breaking Roger Federer’s record
The countdown to Novak Djokovic becoming the oldest world No 1 is on.