Alcaraz Tough Draw | Zverev Avoids Djokovic at US Open 2026 | Tennis News

All right, so we've just gone through the ladies' draw, and now we're going to go through the men's draw, which is kind of wide open. It feels like that, you know, there's a couple of players that we know can win slams. We've seen them win slams, but there are also, you know, some players that are, you know, not playing well right now, or or not played right now. Uh but let's go see who's not playing as all, because there's some big names that have pulled out. All right, so let's have a look at the withdrawal list. We start with Korda, he's pulled out. Nava has pulled out. Kokkinakis, Kwon, and Diallo have all pulled out. Jannik Sinner, last year's finalist and world number one, he's pulled out. Draper's pulled out. Rune has pulled out. And Fritz has also been the latest player to withdraw due to an abdominal strain, so that's unfortunate for us because, you know, he's been playing really, really well at times this year. Uh but let's have a look at what happens. Uh let's have a look at what is what the draw looks like because, um, it's it's looking pretty interesting. Okay, so we've got 32 seeds in this one, and no one gets a bye in the first round in Grand Slams, they've all got to play every match. Starting with Zverev, number one seed and the French Open champion, so, you know, and finalist of Wimbledon. Uh he plays Sonego in the first round. That is a very dangerous first round. Winner of that match will take on either Ellis or Diaz Acosta in the second round. Uh then you've got uh qualifier taking on Popyrin. Winner of that match will take on either Halfmann or the 25th seed uh Taberner in the second round. Then you've got the 21st seed Darderi taking on a qualifier. Winner of that match will take on either another qualifier or Ruud in the second round. Then you've got Sweeny taking on Moutet. Winner of that match will take on either Fery or Musetti, the 13th seed, in the second round. So, yeah, like I said, tough There are some tough players for Zverev there. That is not an easy walk-through, um, you know, to the to the fourth round of the quarters. Uh but you got to watch out for Zverev, number one seed, has a chance of closing the gap with Sinner. Uh but more importantly, for number one, more importantly, could win two slams in a season. I mean, he's a legitimate chance of winning two Grand Slams this year and adding to his French Open that he won a couple months back. So, obviously got to watch out for him. I got to watch out for Musetti coming back from injury, but very tough first round against Fery, so we'll see how Musetti looks. Uh also got to watch out for Taberner, he can be very, very dangerous on uh all surfaces with his serve. Uh but the unseeded players, I'll be watching over Sonigo in that first round against Berrettini. He is not an easy player to play. He's a very awkward customer. Definitely going to watch out for him. And obviously going to watch out for Fognini, who uh you know, he's coming off that Wimbledon semifinals. A wildcard. Just missed out on the seeds here, but yeah. He's uh he's going to play Musetti. Very fun first round. Let's see if he can continue his form. Next part of the draw, we've got the number 12 seed Hurkacz taking on Kokkinakis in the first round. That's a fun match-up. Winner of that will take on either Marozsan or Zhang in the second round. Then you've got Sonego taking on Altmaier. Uh winner of that match will take on either Cerundolo, Juan Manuel Cerundolo, or the 19th seed Ruud in the second round. Then you've got the 31st seed Bergs taking on Taberner. Winner of that will take on either De Jong or a qualifier in the second round. Uh then you've got Van de Zandschulp taking on Van de Zandschulp. Winner of that match will take on either a qualifier or the number six seed De Minaur in the uh first round or second round. So, yeah. Uh this is a an interesting draw. It doesn't feel [laughter] It doesn't feel as uh as sketchy as the Zverev section, but yeah, there are obviously some players obviously some players there that are very very dangerous. You've got to watch out for De Minaur. I feel like he's got a decent draw to make, you know, to make it to the quarters. You know, it's not the worst draw. He's definitely had worse draws uh in Grand Slams, but I I feel like he's got an opportunity. Uh whether he takes it or not, we'll find out. I've also got to watch out for Hurkacz. We know how dangerous he's been over the last uh six months. Uh has a chance of making top 10 as well if he does well here. So, he's got a lot to play for. Uh then you've also got to watch out for Bergs and Ruud. Ruud's coming in injured. Bergs is super dangerous though, so keep an eye on both of them. Uh but the unseeded players, I'll be watching out for Van de Zandschulp. He's had some massive wins here uh in America over the past and obviously here as well. He beat Alcaraz a few years back, so I'm definitely going to watch out for him. And I'll be watching out for Zhang, the wildcard from America. He's also been uh you know, somebody Well, they've given him a wildcard, so they definitely give him uh you know, they're going to give him a chance to to prove himself. But yeah, he's been a He was a really good college player, so definitely going to watch out for him as well. Next part of the draw, we've got the number three seed FAA, Auger-Aliassime. He takes on Hijikata in the first round. Uh winner of that will take on either Borna Coric Raja the number or uh Hanfmann in the second round. Then you got Molchan taking on Bonzi. Uh winner of that match will take on either Gearon or the number 32 seed Bruiser in the second round. Then you got the number 17 seed Menshik takes on a qualifier. Winner of that match will take on either another qualifier or uh Puricard in the second round. Uh then you got Berrettini taking on Monfils. Winner of that will take on either Borges or the number 14 seed uh Tiafoe in the second round. So, yeah, this is a interesting section. Uh I feel like Felix has a an interesting draw. Being the third seed, it always feels like, you know, we always question how did he get there? But he did make the semis here last year, so that's how he got here, right? That's how he's he's ranked so high. Uh a lot of points to defend though, but you know, we'll keep an eye on Felix. Um see how he does as the number three seed. Very, very sketchy, you know, can be a burden, right? Being a top seed. Uh also got to watch out for Menshik coming off that run in uh in the mixed doubles. He's got to be high on confidence there. Also Tiafoe as well, got to watch out for him. An opportunity for him to go on a bit of a run at home. Um and then unseeded I mean, it's really weird to see Khachanov unseeded. I think he's such a dangerous player. Um and being unseeded uh gets FAA in the second round. I would not be surprised if he if he won. I think he made a semi here once, so yeah, maybe very could be very dangerous. And also um Monfils, playing his last Grand Slam uh of his career. So, definitely got to watch out for him as well, and I'm sure he wants to go out with a bang. And uh and and, you know, show us what he, you know, what he's still got at, you know, at his age. So, definitely got to watch out for him as well. Next part of the draw we've got the number nine seed Fritz taking on Blanchet in the first round. Winner of that will take on either Baluchi or a qualifier in the second round. Then you got Hugo Carabelli taking on Struff. Winner of that will take on either Misolic or Cerundolo, the 24th seed in the second round. Then you got the 28th seed Blocks taking on a qualifier. Winner of that will take on either Shang or uh Tranjelitti in the second round. Then you got two qualifiers going at it. Winner of that quali battle will take on either Comesana or the number five seed Khachanov in the second round. So, again, there's a lot of opportunity. It feels like so many of of players um without Sinner and, you know, Alcaraz down the bottom half and even Djokovic is down the bottom half. So many of these names here and so many of the seeds have an opportunity to make it to the semis, right? It's It feels wide open at the top half of the draw. Obviously you got to watch out for Kubler he just made the semi made the final of the mixed doubles back uh last week or this week uh with Bencic so he's going to have a little bit of confidence there and obviously made the final of the French so got to watch out for him. I also got to watch out for Fritz opportunity big opportunity for all the Americans to break the drought that uh that spans you know 23 years since Roddick was the last man to win a a win a grand slam so yeah you know he's got an opportunity you know he's made a final here before too and he can beat Zverev we know that so keep an eye on Fritz I'll also be keeping an eye out an eye on you know Cerundolo and Blocks as well they are very dangerous as well uh but yeah it's going to be interesting. The unseeded players I don't know I mean there seems like less unseeded players uh to worry about here but you know the qualities haven't been placed yet uh but Blanche watch out for him he's a good uh young player and against Fritz will be fun to see him get a you know get an opportunity to show his skills on a big stage cuz I'm sure that put Fritz on you know one of the center courts. Bottom half of the draw we've got the number seven seed Medvedev he takes on a qualifier in the first round uh winner of that match takes on either Gojo or Kokkinakis in the second round. Then you got Munar taking on Atman winner of that will take on either Shimabukuro or the 26 seed Rinderknech in the second round. Then you got the 22nd seed Bashiro taking on uh Kovacevic winner of that match will take on either Miesha or Medjedovic in the second round. Then you've got Vukic taking on a qualifier winner of that will take on either Damir Dzumhur or the number 11 seed Tiafoe in the second round of course Tiafoe is coming off a Cincy final. He is a little bit injured though Tiafoe coming out of that final so we'll see whether or not uh he's recovered from that. Obviously got to watch out for Medvedev has not been in good form um lately but he has no points to lose here he is he had a bad US Open last year lost the first round so opportunity to gain some points and and you know keep himself in that top 10 and uh yeah but I mean he's a former champion so we'll we expect lots from him but not a not easy based on his form. Also going to have a very big opportunity, just like Shelton, just like, you know, Fritz, all those guys, all the Americans, there's a massive opportunity to uh to to win a Grand Slam, as there was a massive opportunity in Cincinnati to win a 1000. So, we'll see if he can take that. Uh you got to watch out for the cousins, uh Vacheron Rinderknech as well, very dangerous players. We know how dangerous they can be with their big serves on these kind of courts. So, yeah, those are the players I'll be watching out for. For the unseeded players, I don't know. I mean, let me know down in the comments below if you're watching this later. If there's any dangerous unseeded players, I mean, Atman, maybe with his serve, he could be a bit of a problem there as well. So, yeah, maybe chuck him in there, but yeah, it feels like the unseeded players are a little less dangerous, but then again, maybe it's cuz the seeds are all, you know, besides Foe who's in form, everybody's kind of, you know, it's a bit random maybe this section. Next part of the draw we've got the number 16 seed Nakashima. He takes on Baez in the first round. Winner of that match will take on either Mikaelson or a qualifier in the second round. Uh then you've got Morita taking on Fucsovics. Winner of that will take on either Cilic or a 23 seed Rublev in the second round, and that is a crazy first round. Uh Rublev, very tough draw um after making uh a good run at the mixed doubles. Uh then you've got the 27 seed Etcheverry taking on Koepfer. Winner of that will take on either Landaluce or a qualifier in the second round. Then you've got Berrettini versus Wawrinka. What a first round. But get this, winner of that will take on either Navone or Djokovic, the number four seed in the second round. So, Djokovic has got to play either Berrettini or Wawrinka in the second round. It's it's unless one of them withdraws, that's who he's going to play if he wins his first round, Djokovic. So, a lot of fun matches uh in the first couple of uh days in this section, especially with that Rublev match as well. So, yeah, really fun. But you got to watch out for Djokovic. He's not coming in with the greatest form, but we do know that at Grand Slams, he doesn't need form. He can come in and make the semis or the final without playing any matches or or even winning any matches. So, definitely got to watch out for Djokovic. Uh Nole at Slams is different. Got to watch out for Nakashima. Very, very good form over the last couple of weeks uh on the hard courts. And I would love to see him play Djokovic. I think that'd be a great match up, Uh right now, with Nakashima's form. You got to watch out for Rublev, as well. You know, he's not been in the greatest form, you know, but maybe after having a great fun time playing the mixed doubles, he might be, you know, energized for it. But he's got a very tough first round. The unseeded players, though, this feels like the most stacked unseeded part of the draw. You got to watch out for Michelsen, very dangerous young American. You've got to watch out for Marida, very dangerous young Spaniard. Cilic, you've got to watch out for former champion. Berrettini but Wawrinka, also, you got to watch out for them. Right? Wawrinka's last slam, Berrettini always dangerous. It is a feels like very dangerous unseeded players in this section of the draw, but Nakashima and Djokovic, they're probably expected to make it through. But yeah, it is not going to be an easy road. All right, next part of the draw now, we've got the number eight seed Shelton. He takes on Griekspoor in the first round. Winner of that match takes on either Djere or Kecmanović in the second round. Then you've got Kecmanović taking on Shapovalov. Winner of that will take on either Van de Zandschulp or the number 29 seed Nishioka in the second round. Then you got the 18 seed Lehečka taking on Carballés Baena. Winner of that match will take on either a qualifier or Machač in the second round. Then you've got a qualifier taking on Kennedy. Winner of that match will take on either Tsitsipas or the number 10 seed Tiafoe in the second round. So, yeah, that's a crazy draw and that's there's some crazy matches there, as well. First I mean, the bottom half of the draw has the best first round matches, I think, of of of the whole draw. The bottom half is definitely the the sketch like the probably the scarier part of the draw. Obviously, you got to watch out for Shelton, won Canada. Also, you got to watch out for Tiafoe, who won Cincinnati. So, the two guys that have won the warm-ups, the big warm-ups, are in the same area of the draw. They could play each other in the fourth round. And they're friends, so I'm sure if they did play each other in a fourth round, it'd be a friendly battle and probably a five-set battle, too. So, I kind of really want to see that, but they've got so many players they're going to get through before we can even consider that. Obviously, you got to watch out for Lehečka and Nishioka, very dangerous on hard courts at their when they're when they're playing well. But the unseeded players, watch out for Griekspoor, that first round match against Shelton is very, very dangerous for Shelton. Also going to watch over Hurkacz, second round match up with Shelton, very, very dangerous. And of course you got to watch over Tsitsipas against Fritz. Now, based on recent form, you'd say Fritz wins. But Tsitsipas, I think he's just got Mouratoglou back, or he's working with Mouratoglou again. So, that could be interesting to see what happens there. But yeah, this is going to be a really fun section to work through and some really great matches possibly, you know, from the second round and beyond. And the bottom part of the draw now, we've got the number 15 seed Bublik. He takes on Wolf in the first round. Winner of that would take on either Tiafoe or Mannarino in the second round. Then you got Prizmic taking on Shevchenko. Winner of that would take on either a qualifier or the 20th seed Paul in the second round. Then you got the 30th seed Ernaux taking on Duckworth. Winner of that would take on either Wu or Walton in the second round. Then you got Barrere taking on Brooksby. Winner of that match would take on either Safiullin, the number two seed and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the second round. And without Alcaraz playing any tennis for four months, or at least any any singles for four months, that is not an easy draw. That is that could be a tricky draw. Unless he comes back 100% and he plays the way he played before he got injured. But yeah, there are some tough matches there potentially. Obviously got to watch over Alcaraz. We'll see what he looks like, how he plays after four months off. We saw him in mixed doubles this week. He looked okay. But definitely definitely some rust there as well. So, definitely got to watch over him. You definitely got to watch over Bublik as well. We haven't seen Bublik forever it feels like. So, yeah. We know how good Bublik is when he's on. Definitely got to watch over him. Watch out for Tommy Paul as well. Potentially fourth round against Alcaraz. He has pushed Alcaraz many times. He's beat him a few. But he pushed him in a lot of matches. So, definitely got to watch over him as well. Unseeded players though, got to watch over Tiafoe. He had a very good week in Cincinnati. And yeah, not not an easy player there for anybody, including Alcaraz, right? Very dangerous player. And I'd also be watching out for Safiullin in that first round because Safiullin, he is he can roll some heads. And he will be loving the fact that he gets to play Alcaraz in really can could push Alcaraz in that first round. Don't be surprised if if Safiullin takes a couple of sets off him. I mean, that could be really, really dangerous for uh for Alcaraz in that first round back or first match back. But, there it is. That is the draw for the men. And yeah, it's I don't know who's going to win. I mean, the draw doesn't really help. Zverev's draw is not terrible, but it's also not easy. Alcaraz, we just don't know what to expect from him. Djokovic, we don't know what to expect from him, but we we have high expectations on all of them. Or is it going to be somebody else? One of the Americans? They've got an opportunity to possibly win a slam and break the drought of uh you know, since first player since Roddick to win a Grand Slam um back in you know, '03. So, yeah. Let me know in the comments below. Who do you think's going to win this tournament? Because I don't know. I don't know. I mean, I have to wait see the first round of Alcaraz before I can probably make a real decision. But, there it is. That's the draw for the men and it starts on Sunday.