1) Novak Djokovic
Apparently, this guy is quite good. Won some big tournament on grass a few weeks ago. Did okay on the clay at Roland Garros, too. Oh, and didn’t he win the Australian Open back in February? Come to think of it, that’s three different surfaces. Must be pretty useful. They say he once held all four grand slam titles simultaneously, you know; he must wonder what all this calendar year fuss is about. The man to beat, as he almost invariably is.
What he says: “I have to hit one ball at a time, try to be in the moment – have a guiding star, in a way.”
2) Daniil Medvedev
Rumour has it there’s an angry octopus out there who wants his tentacles back. If he could see what fine use Medvedev has been making of them, maybe he’d think again. The Russian’s trademark flurry of arms and legs has carried him to his most consistent season so far in the majors. The Monaco-based Muscovite made the final in Melbourne, the last eight in Paris – where he’d never previously won a match – and, also for the first time, the last 16 at Wimbledon. Granted, a quarter-final loss at the Olympics was disappointing. But this is his favourite stretch of the season. Two years ago, Medvedev made four consecutive finals in North America, culminating in a US Open final defeat to Rafael Nadal; this year, he’s already won the Toronto Masters and made the semis at Cincinnati. A second final at Flushing Meadows would be no surprise. Just don’t point a camera in his face.
What he says: “I’m sure Novak wants 45 slams, playing until he is 55 … We’re here to not let him win the US Open. If I talk just for myself, I want to win the US Open.”
3) Stefanos Tsitsipas
Blessed with the flowing locks and chiselled features of a Greek god, Tsitsipas could have been a catwalk model. Maybe he still will be, given his habit of nipping off court for a change of attire at the first available opportunity. (Quick tip: get a dresser, Stef; have you seen how fast real models change clothes?) There is substance to the style, though, as evidenced by a second semi-final at the Australian Open and, in Paris, a first major final. Up to a career-high third in the rankings, the Greek made it to the last four in Toronto and Cincinnati and looks ready for a deep run. Then again, he’s never previously been beyond round three, and faces a tough opener against Andy Murray, the 2012 champion and former world No 1.
What he says: “I wouldn’t trust anyone with cutting my hair.”
4) Alexander Zverev
Having followed up his victory at the Tokyo Olympics by winning the Cincinnati Masters, Zverev arrives in New York – where he came within two points of the title in the final against Dominic Thiem last year – with genuine title pretensions. How far he will be affected by recent allegations about his private life remains to be seen.
What he says: “[Last year] fuelled gas into the fire a little bit because I was two points away from winning it … I am very, very motivated.”
5) Andrey Rublev
When Rublev made the Cincinnati Masters final after beating Medvedev for the first time in five attempts, he likened it to graduating from university. His compatriot has defeated him in two of the three major quarter-finals he has reached, so it was an important test to pass. Rublev fell short of his masters in Cincy, where he was handily beaten by Zverev in the final, and it may be too soon for the doctoral-level assignment of winning a first slam. A lovely ball-striker, the 23-year-old has struggled to reproduce his devastating three-set form over five sets, but he is steadily growing in experience and self-belief, and his last-eight runs at the US and Australian Opens speak of a player with genuine hard-court pedigree. Expect fun, fearsome forehands and perhaps even a place in the last four.
What he says: “The game is there, so it’s not about the game.”
6) Matteo Berrettini
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Djokovic seems to have taken the old adage to heart, if the sight of him practising with Berrettini in the Arthur Ashe stadium this week is anything to go by. Having pushed the world No 1 hard at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, where he made his first major final, could Berrettini finally get the job done in NYC? In the plus column, the towering Italian has shown he can be a contender in Queens by reaching the semis two years ago, and should be high on confidence after his run in SW19. The big question mark surrounds his inactivity since Wimbledon, where he was hampered by a thigh injury that subsequently forced him out of the Olympics. Berrettini has played just two matches since, edging a close three-setter against Albert Ramos Vinolas in Cincinnati before losing to Felix Auger-Aliassime. But if he makes his projected quarter-final against Djokovic and manages to keep it close, those booming serves and bazooka-like forehands will pose a genuine threat to the Serb’s grand slam prospects.
What he says: “Concrete is the surface on which there is the greatest struggle, it will be a tough tournament.”
7) Denis Shapovalov
Since making his breakthrough run to a first major semi-final at Wimbledon, Shapovalov has made more impact as a fledgling rap artist than as a tennis player. The Canadian has not won a match since early July, losing his openers in Gstaad, Toronto and Cincinnati, but has somehow found time to make a song entitled Night Train and release it on a newly-created Instagram account. A new MC in NYC? It’ll never catch on.
What he says: “In this sport, anyone can beat anyone on any given day.”
8) Casper Ruud
The ever-steady Norwegian has been on a tear since Wimbledon, capturing three titles in three weeks in Bastad, Gstaad and Kitzbühel. All were on clay, and Ruud is not oblivious to criticism that he needs to post similar results on other surfaces. In Toronto, he mischievously signed a TV camera “hard courts” en route to the quarter-finals. He also reached the last eight the following week in Cincinnati. He has only once reached the fourth round of a slam, but that will surely change before too long. Watch this space.
What he says: “My best slam result is from this year’s Australian Open, so I think [hard courts are] a surface that also can suit my game well, even though this year has been mainly clay, clay, clay.”
9) Pablo Carreno Busta
The Spaniard has reached two semi-finals at Flushing Meadows. Djokovic, who was infamously disqualified against Carreno Busta last year – and more recently lost to him in the bronze medal match at the Olympics – will surely be praying he doesn’t make a third. PCB’s path to the last four is far from straightforward. Drawn in the same quarter as Shapovalov, a player he has beaten in all but one of their five previous meetings, Carreno Busta would potentially face Zverev in the last eight. Should that happen, he will not want for motivation after blowing a two-set semi-final lead against the German last year. With Reilly Opelka, Sebastian Korda, Lloyd Harris and Olympic silver medallist Karen Khachanov also lurking, the variables in this quarter are plentiful. But a rematch against Djokovic, with the grand slam on the line, would certainly be intriguing.
What he says: “I am feeling [like] a better player, I am feeling more confidence on court.”
10) Hubert Hurkacz
Between winning a maiden Masters title at the Miami Open and reaching a first major semi-final at Wimbledon, it’s been quite the year for Hurkacz. He’s even discovered something quicker than his 150mph first serve: a McLaren GT, which tops out at 203mph, with which he’s been spending some quality time in Manhattan. That’s what happens when you start making waves at the top of the men’s game: people give you nice cars to play with. Don’t imagine it’ll go to the gentle giant’s head though. The 6ft 5in Pole is widely regarded as one of the most unassuming characters on the tour, about as far removed from the stereotypical New Yorker as could be imagined. Perhaps that’s why he’s never been beyond the second round at Flushing Meadows. Seeded to meet Berrettini in the last 16, he may struggle to improve greatly on that record this year.
What he says: “Can’t complain about my ride to the US Open this year.”