US Open 2024: 5 favorites to win the men's singles title ft. Novak Djokovic, Ben Shelton
The 2024 US Open is set to feature the best players on the ATP tour this month. The next generation has started to stamp its authority at the Majors but Novak Djokovic's recent Olympic gold medal triumph in Paris is a reminder of his abilities at the top.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz have been the stand-out performers on the men's tour this year. The Italian captured his first Grand Slam by winning the Australian Open and Alcaraz showed his class by reigning supreme in the French Open. The Spaniard continued his purple patch by defending his title in Wimbledon and also bagged a valuable silver medal at the Summer Olympics in Paris.
On the contrary, World No. 4 Alexander Zverev and World No. 5 Dannil Medvedev may feel gutted to have not made a significant impact so far. The German secured a runner-up finish in the French Open and the Russian came agonizingly close to lifting the title in the Australian Open. Despite winning the first two sets against Sinner in the finals, Medvedev fell to the Italian in five-sets, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.
The high profile American contingent will include the likes of Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe. While Fritz and Paul looked exhausted during their last two outings, Tiafoe and Shelton look poised to silence their critics at the US Open.
Having said that, let's take a look at five favorites who could win the 2024 US Open in New York.
5) Daniil Medvedev
Fifth on the list is Russian No. 1 Daniil Medvedev, who is one of the most underrated players on tour this year. After runner-up finishes in Melbourne and Indian Wells, he registered a modest run on clay with a fourth-round appearance in Paris. He found his form again on grass by reaching the semifinals in Wimbledon, but couldn't pass the test against Carlos Alcaraz.
With impressive results all across the globe, Medvedev will easily be among the favorites to make a deep run in New York. He is a US Open champion and a two-time runner up at Flushing Meadows. The Russian was a single win away from lifting the trophy last year, but Novak Djokovic stood in his way in the finals.
4) Jannik Sinner
Fourth on the list is the effortless World No. 1 Jannik Sinner. The Italian has turned his consistent results over the last couple of years into clinical performances in 2024. He opened his account at the Majors by winning the Australian Open and also lifted trophies in Rotterdam, Miami, Halle and Cincinnati.
Sinner will enter the US Open after a quarterfinal exit in Montreal and a title-winning run in Cincinnati. He reached the quarterfinals of the US Open in 2022 and the fourth round in 2023. The youngster will be hoping to make a significant impact this time around and will the top seed in New York.
3) Carlos Alcaraz
Spanish tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz has had yet another splendid season on the men's tour. After an ordinary performane in the Australian Open, he successfully defended his title in Indian Wells. The Spaniard continued to build momentum with a maiden title in the French Open and another title defence in Wimbledon.
Alcaraz has an 88% success ratio in New York and is a former champion at the US Open (2022). He reached the semifinals last year before falling prey to the third seed, Daniil Medvedev. The 21-year-old will be chasing his fifth Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows and is surely among the favorites to make a deep run.
2) Ben Shelton
Second on the list is home favorite and power-hitter Ben Shelton. The youngster has been outstanding the last two years on tour, chalking up a quarterfinal run in the 2023 Australian Open and a semifinal appearance at the 2023 US Open. He's managed to captured two titles as well, one in Tokyo last year and another in Houston this year.
Shelton will enter New York after a quarterfinal run in the Cincinnati Open. If he manages to find the balance between his strategy and potent all-around game, he could cause problems for his opponents in New York. His scintillating run in New York last year should serve to increase his morale to make the difference this time around.
1) Four-time US Open champion, Novak Djokovic
Finally, four-time US Open champion and Paris Olympics gold medalist Novak Djokovic will be among the top favorites to win in New York. The Serb is undergoing one of the toughest seasons of his career, without a trophy on the ATP tour. He came close to winning the Wimbeldon Championships in London, but couldn't solve the riddle against Carlos Alcaraz in the finals.
Djokovic's recent gold medal finish in Paris should serve to boost his confidence to raise the bar at the US Open. He sent a clear message to the men's locker room last month and can rise to big occasions at will. The 37-year-old is the defending champion at the US Open and will be seeded second at the event. He will enter the event after a three-week lay-off from tour.