Novak Djokovic gets opening at US Open after Sinner exit

Novak Djokovic has been given a stronger opportunity to end his Grand Slam drought at the US Open after Jannik Sinner withdrew from the tournament. The Serbian has not lifted a major trophy since winning in New York in 2023, leaving his tally at 24 titles, level with Margaret Smith Court’s record total.

The US Open begins on 30 August. Carlos Alcaraz is now expected to carry the leading status, but the Spaniard has not played a warm-up event and has been dealing with a wrist injury since the Barcelona tournament in April. Alexander Zverev is viewed as another principal challenger in the field.

Djokovic’s own preparation has been uneven. He lost his opening match in Cincinnati to Thiago Agustin Tirante, meaning he arrives in New York without the ideal competitive build-up. Even so, coach Rick Macci considers the tournament setup favourable for the Belgrade player.

Macci’s assessment is that Djokovic’s prospects will depend partly on the conditions. Temperatures close to 30 degrees Celsius combined with high humidity could make the campaign more demanding, while rest, recovery and shorter matches would improve his chances of claiming a 25th Grand Slam title under the lights at Flushing Meadows.