The US Open Men’s Singles draw has been announced, revealing some mouthwatering first-round ties.
In-form Alexander Bublik faces former US Open champion Marin Cilic, Lorenzo Musetti will play big-serving Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, and Novak Djokovic will go to battle against young American star Learner Tien.
Elsewhere, Cameron Norrie faces home favourite Sebastian Korda, and there will be an all-Australian clash between Alex de Minaur and Christopher O’Connell.
Jannik Sinner, the 2024 champion, faces Czechia’s Vit Kopriva in the first round.
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There is one particular name in the draw that may fly under the radar at the year’s US Open: a player who won the ATP Next Gen Finals in 2024.
Although he is yet to reach the heights some may have expected from him, this player presents a huge threat to any player who faces him at the US Open this year.
Hamad Medjedovic could cause a shock at the US Open
Serbian star Hamad Medjedovic is one to watch at the US Open.
The 22-year-old has yet to truly kick on since winning the ATP Next Gen Finals in 2023. However, his recent performances have shown glimpses of the unlimited potential he possesses.
Just ask pundit David Law, who recently described Medjedovic as a player Jannik Sinner would not enjoy playing.
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The world number 65 recently made the third round of the Cincinnati Open. He then lost to Carlos Alcaraz, who praised the young star after the match.
Medjedovic is currently playing at the Winston-Salem Open. He has recorded impressive victories against Arthur Rinderknech, Jacob Fearnley and Gabriel Diallo, and will face Giovanni Mpetshi-Perricard in the quarter-finals on Thursday.
Medjedovic has been handed a favourable draw at the US Open. He has avoided a seeded player in the first round and will face off against German player Daniel Altmaier.
If he defeats the German, Medjedovic will face an out-of-form Stefanos Tsitsipas, before a possible contest against eighth seed Alex de Minaur.
The stage is set for Medjedovic to stun his peers at the US Open. Whether he will do so is another question.
Carlos Alcaraz described Hamad Medjedovic as ‘really powerful’
After defeating Medjedovic 6-4 6-4 at the Cincinnati Open, Carlos Alcaraz complimented the young Serbian player.
Speaking to the Tennis Channel, Alcaraz said of Medjedovic: “I think today was a little bit tougher [than his previous round] because the opponent is really powerful, he hits really hard, and with the speed from the court, it’s tough to control the ball.”
Alcaraz faces a tough opening US Open round against big-serving American Reilly Opelka.
If he is victorious over Opelka, the Spaniard could face another young star: China’s Juncheng Shang, who faces Italy’s Mattia Bellucci in the first round.