Djokovic, Osaka, Zverev, Barty Headline US Open Tournament
Men’s top seed Novak Djokovic will launch his bid to complete the calendar-year Grand Slam at the US Open against a qualifier, while Alexander Zverev, Ashleigh Barty, Naomi Osaka, Matteo Berrettini and Stefanos Tsitsipas are all set to feature.
French Open runner-up and third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas will take on former champion Andy Murray in the pick of the first round matches. Murray is now ranked 114th in the world as he has struggled to regain full fitness after undergoing hip re-surfacing surgery in 2019.
Zverev, who could be Djokovic’s semi-final opponent, has been the in-form player coming into Flushing Meadows, having upset the Serb on way to the singles Gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Zverev was also victorious at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati.
Last year Zverev was denied a maiden major at the US Open after he was beaten in the final by Dominic Thiem, who is unable to defend his title due to a wrist injury. Second seed Daniil Medvedev will launch his bid to win his first major title against veteran Frenchman Richard Gasquet.
In the women’s draw held on Thursday in New York, top seed Ashleigh Barty opens her campaign against Russian Vera Zvonareva while defending US Open champion Naomi Osaka will face Marie Bouzkova.
Main draw action at the US Open starts on Monday, with the tournament being held with fans this year after taking place in a secure bubble last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s tournament has already witnessed several high-profile withdrawals, with Thiem being joined on the sidelines by Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Simona Halep, Sofia Kenin and Venus Williams.
Chidi Nwoke/Reuters.
