Djokovic and Alcaraz Set for Potential US Open Final Clash

In a highly anticipated U.S. Open draw, defending champion Novak Djokovic and rising star Carlos Alcaraz have been placed on opposite sides of the bracket, paving the way for a potential final clash. Djokovic, who holds a record 24 Grand Slam singles titles, is looking to reclaim his title after a challenging year that included a semifinal loss to Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open and a withdrawal from the French Open due to injury. Alcaraz, who recently triumphed over Djokovic at Wimbledon, will also be aiming for glory in New York. Both Djokovic and Alcaraz will begin their U.S. Open campaigns against players emerging from the ongoing qualifying tournament. Meanwhile, Sinner, the 23-year-old Italian who captured his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, is also a key contender in the men's draw. The tournament will see the return of two former U.S. Open champions, Naomi Osaka and Bianca Andreescu, who face tough first-round matches after missing last year's event. Osaka, a two-time U.S. Open winner, will take on the No. 5 seed Jasmine Paolini, while Andreescu faces a challenging matchup against Paolini. Additionally, Emma Raducanu, the 2021 champion, is set to compete against Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open winner. The tournament also features No. 13 seed Ben Shelton, who will face former champion Dominic Thiem in what is expected to be Thiem's final Grand Slam appearance before retirement.