New York (AFP)
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic enjoys a very clear table on the road to a possible 4th coronation at the US Open (August 31-September 13), with Stefanos Tsitsipas or Alexander Zverev as potential opponents in the semi-final, according to the draw made on Thursday.
In the absence of his two historic rivals, Rafael Nadal (world No. 2) who decided not to defend his title because of the coronavirus, and Roger Federer (No. 4) who had a knee operation in June, the Djokovic's immense favorite status was verified with the constitution of his part of the table where Gaël Monfils (N.9), Fabio Fognini (N.11), Stan Wawrinka (N.17), also forfeited do not appear. .
The Serbian, still undefeated in 2020 and who is preparing to play a semi-final this Friday at the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati, will start against the Bosnian Damir Dzumhur (107th world) whom he has clearly beaten twice.
After which he could find in the 3rd round the German Jan-Lennard Struff (28th world) whom he swept in the quarterfinals of Cincinnati, before a possible 8th finals against the American John Isner (16th world), likely to pose to him problems with its powerful service, even if it will not benefit from the support of New York spectators, behind closed doors requires.
Among the other matches of the 1st round, to follow the duel between the German Alexander Zverev (No. 7 worldwide) and the South African Kevin Anderson (No. 124 but former 5th worldwide) or between the Scotsman Andy Murray, from return to the circuit after a long absence (N.134) and winner of the event in 2012, and the Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka (N.48).
In Murray's part of the table is Dominic Thiem, seeded N.2, pitifully eliminated from the start in Cincinnati, and who should come out against the Spaniard Jaume Munar (104th world). An unprecedented round of 16 Thiem-Murray is then possible.
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Daniil Medvedev, finalist last year, can consider such a course. He will start against Federico Delbonis (78th world), before a possible 3rd round against another Argentinian, Guido Pella, very present after his controversial quarantine having deprived him of Cincinnati.
Among the French, the draw was lenient for Benoît Paire (22nd) against the Polish Kamil Majchrzak (108th) and for Gilles Simon (54th) against the Egyptian Mohamed Safwat (135th). It will be trickier for Richard Gasquet (50th) against the big Croatian server Ivo Karlovic (125), and for Adrian Mannarino (38th) against the Italian Lorenzo Sonego (46th), with Zverev in focus in the third round.
Among the ladies, in the absence of six of the top ten in the world, including Ashleigh Barty (N.1), Simona Halep (N.2) and defending champion Bianca Andreescu (N.6), Serena Williams can dream of a 24th coronation in Major, even if on the courts a lot of work remains to be done, like her surprise elimination in the round of 16 in Cincinnati against the Greek Maria Sakkari.
The American does not have an easy journey. She will start against her compatriot Kristie Ahn (97th world). Then could emerge in the 3rd round Sloane Stephens (38th), surprise winner in 2017, before, who knows, to find Sakkari in 8th then, looking further, Sofia Kenin (4th), winner of the last Australian Open.
In the other part of the table, Naomi Osaka (10th), who finally decided to play her semi-final in Cincinnati after her announced boycott, will start quietly against her compatriot Misaki Doi (81st), before a possible duel against the American rising star Coco Gauff (52nd) in the 3rd round.
Beneficiary of a wild-card, the revenge Kim Clijsters will be opposed to the Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova (27th).
French side, a possible big challenge awaits Caroline Garcia (48th) in the second round against the Czech Karolina Pliskova, seeded N.1, from the second round. Ditto for Océane Dodin (115th) confronted in the first round to Aryna Sabalenka (11th).
© 2020 AFP