US Open: Yet Another Favourable Draw for Nole

The final Grand Slam is finally upon us, with the US Open set to start in two days’ time.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic is aiming for a record-tying fifth title (Open Era) in Flushing Meadows, which will put him in the same breath as Roger Federer, Pete Sampras and Jimmy Connors—all with five titles each.

However, when the tournament released the result of the draw yesterday, the majority of the fans had a common criticism.

It’s the fact that the 24-time Grand Slam winner has once again eluded his biggest rivals in his half of the draw.

According to US Open 2024 news, Djokovic wouldn’t have to worry about the trio of Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev up until the final.

Ranked second in the world and fresh off his Olympic high, Djokovic is looking to win his first Grand Slam title of the year.

Luck of the draw

For the third Major in a row, Djokovic has eluded the contenders who cause him trouble the most.

Prior to his Australian Open exit against eventual champion Sinner, the Serb—and the organisers—were criticised for the way the draw was set up on Djokovic’s part, with the complaints being that Djoker’s bracket was easy pickings for him.

In France, and before he withdrew because of his knee injury, some fans felt that Djokovic did not even need to be fit enough to reach the final, and that even if he’s not at his full best, the draw remains a cakewalk for him.

Well, he was indeed not fit enough and had to abandon the tournament. There goes that assumption.

Still, it did not change the fact that the players in his quadrant were tiers below him. Barring his hypothetical opponents in the semi-final, of course.

More uproar was seen on social media when Wimbledon made their draw results public, with the three best players on the planet once again on the other side of the fence.

He was hobbling and, at times, was visibly seen with discomfort. Yet he still made the final, where Alcaraz showed him a different level in the end.

Aside from winning the Olympic gold, Djokovic has yet to win a title on this year’s ATP tour. But if there’s one thing the tennis world has learned over the course of the careers of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic is that you never count them out.

Path to five titles

Favourable as it is, tennis is played on the court and not on paper. And even though Djokovic is the favourite to come out of his bracket according to the SBOTOP US Open 2024 odds, he needs not to be caught napping or he’ll crash out early on.

The most obvious roadblock in his bracket is Alexander Zverev. They have faced each other 12 times already, with Djokovic leading the head-to-head advantage 8-4, although they have yet to meet this year.

Alexander Zverev could pose a significant challenge to Novak Djokovic's quest for a US Open victory — Alexander Zverev of Germany returns the ball during a practice session prior to the start of the 2024 US Open

Most of their matches were contested on hard courts, with their 2021 US Open semi-final match one of the highlights of their battles so far.

American tennis fans will also not miss the chance of supporting their very own against the polarising superstar, with either Ben Shelton or Frances Tiafoe ready to meet Djokovic in the fourth round.

Djoker had only one meeting with the former—it was an entertaining affair nonetheless. A semi-final match against the young Shelton in last year’s edition of the tournament, the veteran champion was quick to put down—quite literally—his young opponent (16 years his junior), as he mocked Shelton’s celebration en route a straight sets victory.

Grigor Dimitrov, Casper Ruud and Andrey Rublev are also present as potential opponents of Djokovic. But with a combined 3-22 record against him (they all have one win apiece), their chances of winning are slim.

Elsewhere, 2024 Montreal winner Alexei Popyrin is another potential early match-up, along with Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff and fellow Serbian Laslo Djere. None of them, however, have won over Djokovic, registering a combined record of 0-12.

As things stand, with the exception of any health-related issues or a surprise lack of form, Djokovic will only ever be challenged in the semi-final. That’s assuming either Zverev or Ruud makes it through. Meanwhile, Sinner and Alcaraz are the overwhelming favourites to advance to the semi-final of their draw, with Daniil Medvedev a potential dark horse with his history as a former US Open winner (where he beat Djokovic in 2021) and a hard court specialist.

●●●

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE TENNIS STORIES & ODDS

Stay updated with everything sports and betting.