The US Open is Here!

 



        Written By: Jack Nevins of Swish Tribune

    

    Welcome to the 2023 US Open! The final grand slam is upon us, and the tennis world is ready. This tennis season has brought us so many exciting matches and tournaments. From Carlos Alcaraz winning Wimbledon, Novak Djokovic and Alcaraz going at it in a heated matchup in Cincinnati, and Iga Swiatek continuing her dominance winning the French Open. 

    This week, tennis fans have their eyes on the heavy hitters; Djokovic, Alcaraz, Swiatek, and Pegula, but there are a handful of underrated talent in the field this week. The top 8 men's players are: 1. Carlos Alcaraz 2. Novak Djokovic 3. Daniil Medvedev 4. Holger Rune 5. Casper Ruud 6. Jannik Sinner 7. Stefanos Tsitsipas 8. Andrey Rublev. The big dog is Alcaraz as he is the reigning champion, but his crown could be taken. Sinner recently won in Toranton and has some momentum coming into this week. Medvedev won in 2021 and has great experience in this tournament and is confident in taking down king Carlitos. Casper Ruud, who fell short to Alcaraz last year is looking to get his revenge after great success in the French Open. American Ben Shelton who is ranked 46th will also be in the spotlight this week as he competes in his second US Open. Shelton is an underdog this week and many have their eyes on the 2021 national champion. 

    The big story is the absence of Rafael Nadal. Rafa did not play in Wimbledon and was not present in "his tournament", the French Open. Nadal is looking to hang it up and retire following this season. He is still recovering from the same hip surgery that has ruled him out nearly the whole season. we have not seen Rafa since the Australian Open where he suffered a second-round exit. 

  Is American tennis back for the women's bracket? The women's top 8 includes two American, Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff. Gauff had great success at the US Open as a 15-year-old phenomenon. She won two titles this month in Washington and Cincinnati proving she has taken her game to the next level after some soul searching and working with new coach, Pere Riba. Pegula and Gauff are looking to win as Americans for the first time since Sloane Stephens in 2017. The top 8 include: 1. Iga Swiatek 2. Aryna Sabalenka 3. Jessica Pegula 4. Elena Rybakina 5. Ons Jabeur 6. Coco Gauff 7. Maria Sakkari. Iga Swiatek is the one everyone is after, but the Tunisia queen, Ons Jabeur is after her looking to win her second grand slam. Venus Williams has earned a wild-card, and the two-time champion will be competing in her 24th Open. Caroline Wozniacki also received a wild-card and will be coming out of retirement to compete this week.

    The US Open will be action packed and it will certainly be exciting to watch the best in the world go at it and it will be interesting to see if any qualifiers make it into the main draw and advance to the later rounds.

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