US Open 2021 Draws: Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev lead US Open men’s singles draw- The 2021 US Open men’s singles draw was unveiled on Thursday at noon, officially setting the stage for the New York showpiece set to begin on Monday. Each of the world’s top four players leads a quarter, with world No. 1 Novak Djokovic sharing the top half with 2020 finalist Alexander Zverev, and No. 2 Daniil Medvedev in the bottom half with Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Read on for USOpen.org’s first look at the bracket, and click here for the full draw. The halves of the draw, which determine playing days, will be announced Friday.
Loaded Djokovic quarter features four 2021 Slam semifinalists (or better)
US Open 2021: Draws, Schedule, Timing, Top seeds, prize money, LIVE streaming; all you need to know
US Open 2021 Draws: Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev lead US Open men’s singles draw
Djokovic will begin his quest for the Grand Slam against a qualifier, but his section of the draw might qualify as the tournament’s toughest. If the seeds hold, the world No. 1 will face a Wimbledon final rematch against sixth seed Matteo Berrettini in the quarterfinals. Also lurking are 2021 Australian Open semifinalist Aslan Karatsev, whose breakout Melbourne run was ended By Djokovic in straights, and Wimbledon semifinalist Hubert Hurkacz, another potential quarterfinal opponent for the Serb. 2014 US Open finalist Kei Nishikori could face Djokovic in Round 3.
Also in the top section, surging wild card Jenson Brooksby makes his US Open return against Sweden’s Mikael Ymer, after reaching Round 2 in 2019. In another battle of young rising stars, 22-year-old Alex de Minaur — the No. 14 seed and a quarterfinalist here in 2020 — takes on 23-year-old American Taylor Fritz, who’ll look to get beyond Round 3 at a Slam for the first time.
Youth is served in Zverev’s American-heavy section
US Open 2021 Draws: Twenty-four-year-old Zverev will have to navigate through a section full of fresh talent in order to repeat his 2020 final run. But first, his attention will be on veteran Sam Querrey, a 2017 US Open quarterfinalist, whose elite serving ability makes him a devilish first-round out.
Querrey is one of nine Americans in the German’s quarter, with the contingent led by No. 22 seed Reilly Opelka. A trio of young Americans—Sebastian Korda (21), Emilio Nava (19) and Zachary Svajda (18) — are all seeking their first US Open wins, with Korda facing Nikoloz Basilashvili as he looks to build on a Round-of-16 Wimbledon run. Rounding out the American interest are wild cards Jack Sock and Ernesto Escobedo, as well as Tommy Paul and Steve Johnson.
Ninth seed and two-time US Open semifinalist Pablo Carreno Busta — a bronze medalist in Tokyo this summer — and No. 17 seed Gael Monfils are among the elder statesmen in the section, but the remaining seeds are all age 25 or younger. No. 7 seed Denis Shapovalov, 22, could face Karen Khachanov, whose No. 25 seed matches his age, in Round 3. Jannik Sinner (20 years old), Opelka (23), and Alexander Bublik (24) complete the seeds.
Tsitsipas-Murray highlights Round 1 matches
US Open 2021 Draws: The pick of the opening-round matches sees No. 3 seed and 2021 Roland-Garros finalist Tsitsipas take on three-time major winner and former world No. 1 Andy Murray, almost certain to be staged in Arthur Ashe Stadium. While Murray’s injury struggles have limited him in 2021, he has not suffered a first-round loss since February, a run of five events that include a third-round run at Wimbledon.
After a dominant clay-court season, Tsitsipas was bounced in Round 1 in London by Frances Tiafoe (who is also in this quarter). But the Greek rebounded on the US Open Series, reaching consecutive semifinals in Canada and Cincinnati. While he’s found success on the Series throughout his young career — including being named the Series Breakout Performer in 2018 — Tsitsipas is a pedestrian 3-3 at the main event, never advancing beyond Round 3.
The Greek enters the US Open as the 2021 ATP leader in match wins, with 48. Right behind him is No. 5 seed Andrey Rublev, who is 41-14 on the year. Rublev will face a qualifier in Round 1, as will No. 12 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime. One matchup that is set in this quarter is the popcorn-worthy showdown between Nick Kyrgios and No. 18 seed Roberto Bautista Agut.
Big servers power Medvedev’s section
US Open 2021 Draws: Our 2019 finalist entered that year’s tournament on the heels of a scintillating US Open Series in which he reached three finals, including a title in Cincinnati. This summer, Medvedev won in Toronto and reached the final in Cincy, bolstering his credentials as the second favorite in New York behind Djokovic. He faces 35-year-old veteran Frenchman Richard Gasquet, a 2013 US Open semifinalist, in Round 1.
A towering trio with strong US Open resumes will also be a threat in this quarter, with No. 19 seed John Isner, No. 30 Marin Cilic and the unseeded Kevin Anderson all lurking. Medvedev, no serving slouch himself, could face 2014 champ Cilic in Round 3. Isner, a two-time US Open quarterfinalist (2011, 2018) faces 20-year-old countryman Brandon Nakashima in another first-round highlight. It will be a rematch of their Atlanta Open final from Aug. 1, when Isner won his sixth Atlanta title with a 7-6, 7-5 win. Wild card Nakashima reached his first two ATP finals this summer, with his first coming one week earlier in Los Cabos, Mexico.
Casper Ruud, the only other Top-10 seed in this quarter, opens against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
US Open 2021 Draws: Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev lead US Open men’s singles draw
Editors pick
