Carlos Alcaraz is back to defend his US Open crown, but Novak Djokovic stands in his way
Carlos Alcaraz enters Flushing Meadows as the defending champion and, on paper, the player most likely to lift the US Open trophy once again. However, one crucial question hangs over the Spaniard: what version of Alcaraz will appear in New York?
The 23-year-old she has not played competitive singles since Aprilwhen a wrist injury brought his Barcelona Open campaign to an abrupt end. He subsequently missed the Madrid and Rome Masters, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the North American hard court. So his return will come at the biggest possible stage, without a warm-up tournament to help him rediscover his rhythm.
This makes Alcaraz popular but not undisputed. He hasn’t played in nearly five months, and while his training has intensified in recent weeks, the match sharpness is something that can’t be replicated on the training ground. Even his performance in mixed doubles alongside Serena Williams in New York, he offered only limited insight into where his competitive game currently stands.
Still, there is a reason not to write him off.
ALCARAZ PROVED HE CAN WIN WITHOUT A SETUP
Interestingly, Alcaraz has already provided evidence that a lack of competition preparation does not necessarily translate into a poor Grand Slam campaign.
Before the Australian Open earlier this year, the Spaniard did not play an official warm-up tournament. He arrived in Melbourne without the usual tournament and won the title, completing his career Grand Slam at just 22 years old. It was a reminder of how quickly Alcaraz can find his groove when the stakes rise.
The difference this time is the nature of the break. His build-up to the Australian Open followed an off-season, while this return to the US Open comes after a wrist injury and an extended period away from the tour.
That resolution matters.
Alcaraz was 22-3 before the injury in 2026, winning the Australian Open and Doha. His quality was never questioned before being fired. The uncertainty is whether he can immediately reproduce that level against players who have spent the summer competing on hard courts.
SINNER’S ABSENCE GIVES DJOKOVIC A HUGE OPENING
Novak Djokovic continues his quest for a 25th Grand Slam title (Photo Reuters)
If Alcaraz’s fitness and form creates one layer of uncertainty, Jannik Sinner’s absence creates another.
The world number one withdrew from the US Open due to a right knee injury after a remarkable season in which he went 44-3 and won six titles, including Wimbledon. Sinner’s absence removes the player who has beaten Djokovic in five of his last six matches and removes one of the biggest obstacles between the Serbian and another major title.
It could hardly have come at a better time for Djokovic.
Also read: Djokovic, Alcaraz in the same half of the draw
The 39-year-old is chasing a record 25th Grand Slam singles title, but his recent form has hardly screamed certainty. His only competitive match since Wimbledon before the US Open came in Cincinnati, where he suffered a first-round loss to Thiago Agustin Tirante. It was hardly the kind of preparation the four-time US Open winner would have liked.
But Djokovic has repeatedly shown that grand slams can bring a different version of him.
He reached the final of the Australian Open and the semi-finals of Wimbledon earlier this year, proving that his ability to navigate seven matches in two weeks remains intact. With Sinner out and Alcaraz back from injury, Djokovic was given the opportunity to find his feet when it mattered most.
ZVEREV SHOULD NOT BE UNDERESTIMATED
Can Alexander Zverev win the US Open? (Photo by Reuters)
Then there’s Alexander Zverev, perhaps the player who could quietly disrupt the Alcaraz-Djokovic narrative.
The German enters New York as the top seed following Sinner’s withdrawal and has already fought his way to his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros. He followed that up with another grand final at Wimbledon, where Sinner defeated him in four sets. In other words, Zverev has reached a Grand Slam final.
That alone makes him impossible to miss.
Zverev’s US Open history is also significant. He reached the final in 2020, losing to Dominic Thiem after holding a two-set lead, and has since reached the semifinals and multiple quarterfinals in New York. His recent hard-court form has been less convincing, with early defeats in Toronto and Cincinnati, but his serve and baseline game remain particularly dangerous on the surface.
With Alcaraz potentially rusty and Djokovic leaving Cincinnati early, Zverev has a real chance to seize the opportunity.
DARK HORSES
Aside from the obvious names, the US Open field has enough firepower to make the tournament unpredictable.
Ben Shelton is an obvious candidate. The American has enjoyed a great summer on hard court, successfully defending his Canadian Open title, while Taylor Fritz remains a proven threat to reach the US Open final in 2024. Both have the weapons to trouble top opponents, especially with the home crowd behind them.
Daniil Medvedev is another player who cannot be ignored, especially on hard courts. The former US Open champion can absorb tremendous pressure from the baseline and turn matches into physical battles.
Alex de Minaur, meanwhile, could benefit from the open nature of the draw. His consistency and movement make him a difficult opponent in five sets, while Arthur Fils comes in with momentum after winning Cincinnati and racking up some notable victories this season.
Even Stefanos Tsitsipas deserves a mention. The Greek is rediscovering his form in 2026, winning his first title in 16 months in Gstaad before returning to the top 50. He is not one of the early favourites, but a confident Tsitsipas can still trouble the biggest names.
And that’s what makes this US Open so fascinating.
Alcaraz has the status of the defending champion and the talent to make layoffs irrelevant. Djokovic has perhaps the clearest chance yet to reach 25 majors. Zverev has the momentum of back-to-back Grand Slam finals. Behind them sits a group of hungry challengers waiting for one of the favorites to wink.
So the question is not just whether Alcaraz can defend his crown.
The question is whether his long absence leaves him vulnerable enough for Djokovic, Zverev or any of the chasers to eventually take advantage.
Where to watch US Open 2026 matches?
Star Sports Network has the broadcast rights for US Open 2026. Live streaming of the matches will be available on JioHotstar.
Top men at US Open 2026
Alexander Zverev (Germany), Carlos Alcaraz (Spain), Felix Auger-Aliassime (Canada), Novak Djokovic (Serbia), Flavio Cobolli (Italy), Alex de Minaur (Australia), Daniil Medvedev, Ben Shelton (USA), Taylor Fritz (USA), Arthur Fils (France)
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Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
30 Aug 2026 09:28 IST