This year’s US Open could be the best shot home players have at winning the men’s title for a long time.
The draw is more open than recent editions for a variety of reasons. World No.1 Jannik Sinner isn’t playing due to injury. Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is playing in his first event since April due to a wrist problem and is still testing the waters with his fitness in best-of-five matches. Meanwhile, top seed Alexander Zverev has endured a difficult start by coming through a five-hour first round battle against Lorenzo Sonego.
Eight-seeded Ben Shelton and ninth-seeded Taylor Fritz are bidding to become the first American man to triumph in Flushing Meadows since Andy Roddick in 2003. However, do they have what it takes to clinch the trophy?
