US Open 2023: Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic Battle for the Top Spot

Just 20 points. That is the difference between the two best players of the season. At the top of the ranking appears Carlos Alcarazcon 9815. Novak Djokovic is only one step behind: 9795. They are, by far, the 1st and 2nd in the world respectively, with more than 3,500 points behind the third (Daniil Medvedev), and close to 5,000 on the fourth man in the ranking (Holger rune). It is logical, then, that their names appear at the top of the favorites list, and monopolize the star roles of this movie called US Open 2023 that will start this Mondayin the Argentine noon, 11 o’clock in the New York cement.

Everything is very even between them. As even as the last clash, a tremendous battle of almost four hours in the final of the Cincinnati Masters 1000, which opted for the Serb’s side by the edge of a nail. A changing and high-flying pulse, like the definition that they starred in Wimbledon. There the Spanish celebrated, in the fifth set. Within two weeks it will be seen if this rivalry has another summit in New York. The US Open, the last Grand Slam of the tour, opens its doors, and the expectation is in the possible generational battle. Djokovic’s 36 years against Alcaraz’s 20. The experience and legendary aura of the Serbian against the irresistible talent of the Murcian. That is the desire of many. The fight, in two weeks, for Nole’s 24th Grand Slam title or the third major and Alcaraz’s title defense. And, as if this were not enough, the number 1 in the world at stake.

The last postcard of the US Open 2022 ¿; Carlos Alcaraz raises the champion’s trophy after beating Casper Ruud in the final Charles Krupa – AP

For Djokovic, it is the return to a singular stage. He won the US Open in 2011, 2015 and 2018 -unappealable final against Juan Martín del Potro-, and was a finalist in 2007 (16 years ago!), 2010, 2012, 2013, 2016 and 2021, when Daniil Medvedev closed the door to the Grand Slam: the four major tournaments in the same season. In 2020, he starred in front of empty stands due to the pandemic in that unusual disqualification for a line judge being hit by a ball. Last year, it is worth remembering, he was unable to travel due to the closure of borders to those who were not vaccinated against Covid. His record here is 81 wins and 13 losses, the major in which he has the fewest wins (92-11 at Wimbledon, 92-16 at Roland Garros and 89-8 in Australia). At 36 years old, the Serbian limited his calendar. In 2023 he has 38 wins and five falls, with four titles in his bag (Adelaide, the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Cincinnati), plus the defeat in the All England definition.

Sitting in front of the press in the previous round of conferences, Djokovic was reflective: “The first feeling I have is the excitement of returning to the biggest stadium in our sport and the most fun and exciting atmosphere that tennis has. I am very anxious. no grudge [por no haber podido jugar aquí]. Last year, during the tournament, I felt sorry that I couldn’t be here. I was sad that I couldn’t participate.”

And he was clear about his goal, his race against time: “The Grand Slams are the biggest goals I have in my career right now. I don’t know how many I have left. I don’t have an ending in my mind for now. Things are different when you’re 36, so I have to enjoy the present, and treat every Grand Slam like it’s my last in terms of commitment. I see every Grand Slam I play in as a golden opportunity to make history.” His return to Manhattan allowed him to treat himself: a face-to-face meeting with Lionel Messi. Two giants of world sports in the city of skyscrapers. He will appear Monday night against France’s Alexandre Muller in the colossal Arthur Ashe.

Djokovic debuted at the US Open in 2005. At that time, Carlos Alcaraz was barely 2 years old. In September 2022, the Spanish prodigy became the youngest number 1 in history, after beating the Norwegian Casper Ruud in the final. Relentless, he keeps track of 53 wins and just 6 losses in 2023, with 6 titles: Buenos Aires, Barcelona, ​​the Masters 1000 of Indian Wells and Miami, Queen’s and Wimbledon, more finals in Rio de Janeiro and the most recent one in Cincinnati. Does he arrive as a favorite at Flushing Meadows? Yes, although he showed some doubts on the previous tour: he stumbled in the Toronto quarterfinals against Tommy Paul, and in the five games he played in Cincinnati he had to reach the third set, including a match-point saved in the semifinal against Hubert hurkacz.

In the Big Apple, Alcaraz faces an unusual mission for someone barely 20 years old: defend a Grand Slam title and be in the spotlight. “My life changed a lot, although I am the same guy, a normal guy. Now I am, shall we say, more famous. A lot of people are starting to know my name after the US Open last year.” Getting on all the covers has put him in a situation that sometimes makes him uncomfortable: “Here, in New York, there are a lot of Spaniards, South Americans too. It’s hard for me to walk normally sometimes. Some days I’d like to not be recognized at all, but it’s going to be impossible. I have to enjoy that part, yes, but sometimes it becomes difficult.

Carlos Alcaraz, in one of the training sessions on Sunday, hours before his debut at the US OpenCLIVE BRUNSKILL – GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA

A year after that consecration with victory over Casper Ruud, Alcaraz evaluates: “Obviously I feel that I am more mature on the track. I feel like I’m a better player than last year. Djokovic? He is obviously one of the greatest of all time in our sport. Everything he does in the game is amazing. And the mental strength of him…he never gives up. In difficult moments it seems that he is going to lose, but he always gives himself the opportunity to continue playing and win. That’s probably the most important thing he has, and I try to take it for my game.” The first step will be against the German Dominic Koepfer.

In the previous, the outlook appears somewhat more relieved for Djokovic, whose potential opponents are Stefanos Tsitsipas (7th) or Holger Rune (4th). At the top of the key, Alcaraz appears hypothetical crosses against Medvedev (3rd), the champion in 2021; Jannik Sinner (6th), recent champion in Toronto, and whom many see as the great rival of his generation, in a sector in which Alexander Zverev and Andy Murray also appear, potential risk adversaries.

And with the foot too: Carlos Alcaraz and a bit of soccer-tennis during Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day CLIVE BRUNSKILL – GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA

On the feminine side, the Polish Every Swiatek wants to win again. At 22, he has four Grand Slam titles, three of them at Roland Garros. On the lookout for her will be Aryna Sabalenka, who last January won her first major in Australia, and was a semifinalist twice at Flushing Meadows; the Tunisian Ons Jabeur, a finalist in 2022 and who is looking for her first major title, and Coco Gauff, the American hope, who is barely 19 years old, but already has a few seasons on the tour and has just won the Cincinnati tournament.

Poland’s Iga Swiatek, winner in 2022, returns for another crown in New YorkFrank Franklin II – AP

In more than one case, the US Open, as the last major tournament of the year before the Masters, is also a favorable setting for those willing to hang up their racket. This is the case of John Isner, who will retire at 38 years of age. The 2.08m tall Greensboro giant starred with Nicolas Mahut in the longest match in history, that of 11 hours and 5 minutes over three days at Wimbledon 2010, with 70-68 in the fifth set. He was number 8 in the world, won 16 titles (15 in the United States, and only the one in Auckland 2010 outside the country), including the 2018 Miami Masters 1000 as his greatest achievement. The man with the most aces in history (14,411) will start the last tournament of his career on Tuesday afternoon, against an Argentine: Facundo Diaz Acosta. A good test for the 22-year-old left-hander from Buenos Aires, absolute rookie in the US Open.

Sebastian Báez comes from being champion on the Winston Salem cement, the last preparatory tournamentTwitter

With regard to the Argentines, a heterogeneous group will take action, with youngsters looking for one more jump in a great season, such as Tomás Martín Etcheverry, Sebastián Báez -recent winner in Winston Salem, arrives with 10 wins in a row- and Francisco Cerúndolo, plus another rookie in New York like left-handed Juan Manuel Cerúndolo. Players with more experience on the tour are added to them: Guido Pella, Diego Schwartzman, Pedro Cachin, and among the women, Nadia Podoroska. All, with the illusion of standing out in two weeks of action in which entertainment, frenetic pace and greatness are combined.

Conocé The Trust Project
2023-08-27 21:53:00
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