US Open 2024: Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are among the men to watch
![Jannik Sinner, of Italy, plays a shot to Andrey Rublev,...](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.newsday.com%2Fimage-service%2Fversion%2Fc%3AOTIwOGU3YTgtMTk3My00%3AYmIzYzViNWUtOWI2ZC00%2Fmontreal-tennis.jpeg%3Ff%3DLandscape%2B16%253A9%26w%3D770%26q%3D1&w=1920&q=80)
Jannik Sinner, of Italy, plays a shot to Andrey Rublev, of Russia, during their quarterfinal match at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. Credit: AP/Graham Hughes
NEW YORK — Here are some of the men to watch at the U.S. Open, which starts in New York on Monday (money-line odds via BetMGM Sportsbook ):
Jannik Sinner
Ranking: 1
Career-Best Ranking: 1
Country: Italy
Age: 23
2024 Record: 48-5
2024 Titles: 5
![Spain's Carlos Alcaraz backhands to Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the...](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.newsday.com%2Fimage-service%2Fversion%2Fc%3AMDNmYjQ2ZGItMjI5NC00%3AZTQzNjg0ZDktZDE4ZS00%2Fparis-olympics-tennis.jpeg%3Ff%3DLandscape%2B16%253A9%26w%3D768%26q%3D1&w=1920&q=80)
Spain's Carlos Alcaraz backhands to Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the men's singles tennis final at the Roland Garros stadium during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Paris, France. Credit: AP/Louise Delmotte
Career Titles: 15
Grand Slam Titles: 1 — Australian Open (2024)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: 2023-Lost in the 4th Round, 2022-QF, 2021-4th, 2020-1st, 2019-1st
Aces: Sinner tested positive twice for a banned anabolic steroid in March but wasn't suspended because a panel determined he didn't use the drug intentionally and instead was exposed to it by his physiotherapist. ... Won the Cincinnati Open tuneup in August. ... Rose to No. 1 in June. ... Won his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January. ... The U.S. Open is the only major where he's never been to the semifinals.
![Serbia's Novak Djokovic kisses his gold medal after defeating Spain's...](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.newsday.com%2Fimage-service%2Fversion%2Fc%3AMjI0OTEwMjUtZjQyYS00%3AZmU2YjNjNzQtNzVhOC00%2Fparis-olympics-tennis.jpeg%3Ff%3DLandscape%2B16%253A9%26w%3D768%26q%3D1&w=1920&q=80)
Serbia's Novak Djokovic kisses his gold medal after defeating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in the men's singles tennis final at the Roland Garros stadium during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Paris, France. Djokovic has won his first Olympic gold medal by beating Alcaraz 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) in the 2024 Games men's tennis singles final. Credit: AP/Andy Wong
He Said It: “I will now put this challenging and deeply unfortunate period behind me.”
Read All About It: Sinner avoids suspension after two positive doping tests
Odds Are: +200
Novak Djokovic
Ranking: 2
Career-Best Ranking: 1
Country: Serbia
Age: 37
2024 Record: 29-7
2024 Titles: 1
Career Titles: 99
Grand Slam Titles: 24 — U.S. Open (4: 2011, 2015, 2018, 2023), Australian Open (10: 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023), French Open (3: 2016, 2021, 2023), Wimbledon (7: 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: 2023-Won Championship, 2022-Did Not Play, 2021-Runner-Up, 2020-4th, 2019-4th
Aces: Hasn't played since finally earning the one significant achievement that was missing from his resume: an Olympic gold medal. He beat Carlos Alcaraz in the final at the Paris Games on Aug. 4. ... Had surgery on his right knee in early June after tearing his meniscus during a match at the French Open. Played at Wimbledon less than a month later and reached the final. ... A 25th Grand Slam title would give Djokovic sole possession of the record for most majors in tennis history.
He Said It: “When I take everything into consideration, this probably is the biggest sporting success I ever had in my career."
Read All About It: Djokovic adds an Olympic gold medal to his resume
Odds Are: +200
Carlos Alcaraz
Ranking: 3
Career-Best Ranking: 1
Country: Spain
Age: 21
2024 Record: 38-8
2024 Titles: 3
Career Titles: 15
Grand Slam Titles: 4 — U.S. Open (2022), Wimbledon (2023, 2024), French Open (2024)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: 2023-SF, 2022-W, 2021-QF, 2020-DNP, 2019-DNP
Aces: Won the past two Grand Slam tournaments — the French Open in June and Wimbledon in July — and reached the final at the Olympics before losing to Novak Djokovic and settling for a silver medal. ... Is 4-0 in Grand Slam finals so far. ... Youngest man in tennis history with at least one Grand Slam title on three surfaces.
He Said It: “Get closer to the legends — that's my objective.”
Read All About It: Alcaraz wants a seat at the adult table after his fourth major trophy
Odds Are: +160
Daniil Medvedev
Ranking: 5
Career-Best Ranking: 1
Country: Russia
Age: 28
2024 Record: 35-13
2024 Titles: Zero
Career Titles: 20
Grand Slam Titles: 1 — U.S. Open (2021)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: 2023-RU, 2022-4th, 2021-W, 2020-SF, 2019-RU
Aces: Heads to New York on a three-match losing streak. ... This season, reached the final at the Australian Open before losing to eventual champion Jannik Sinner and reached the semifinals at Wimbledon before losing to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz. ... Has been to at least the semifinals at four of the past five U.S. Opens. ... Is just 1-5 in Grand Slam finals.
He Said It: “Hopefully I can win some more Grand Slams. I believe in myself. I believe in my tennis.”
Read All About It: Medvedev eliminates Sinner in the Wimbledon quarterfinals
Odds Are: +1000
Ben Shelton
Ranking: 13
Career-Best Ranking: 13
Country: United States
Age: 21
2024 Record: 30-19
2024 Titles: 1
Career Titles: 2
Grand Slam Titles: None — Best: Semifinals, U.S. Open (2023)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: 2023-SF, 2022-1st, 2021-DNP, 2020-DNP, 2019-DNP
Aces: The 2024 U.S. Open will be only his ninth Grand Slam tournament, but he already has a run to the quarterfinals at last year's Australian Open and to the semifinals in New York. ... He was the youngest American man in the U.S. Open semifinals since Michael Chang was 20 in 1992. ... Won an NCAA singles title for the University of Florida in 2022. ... Lefty with a big serve that reached 149 mph at Flushing Meadows a year ago.
He Said It: “I’m definitely going to try to bring some things to the table that are different and hopefully disruptive."
Read All About It: Shelton beats Tiafoe to reach the U.S. Open semifinals
Odds Are: +2800
Dominic Thiem
Ranking: 209
Career-Best Ranking: 3
Country: Austria
Age: 30
2024 Record: 2-7
2024 Titles: Zero
Career Titles: 17
Grand Slam Titles: 1 — U.S. Open (2020)
Last 5 U.S. Opens: 2023-2nd, 2022-1st, 2021-DNP, 2020-W, 2019-1st
Aces: Received a wild-card invitation for his last appearance at the U.S. Open; he's announced that this is his final season before retirement after a series of wrist issues. ... Won his lone Grand Slam title at the 2020 U.S. Open by beating Alexander Zverev in the final in five sets after dropping the opening two sets in a nearly empty stadium; spectators were not allowed on site because of the COVID-19 pandemic. ... Was the runner-up at a Slam three times.
He Said It: “I’ve really enjoyed every single year of it.”
Read All About It: Thiem is 1st man since 1949 to win the U.S. Open final after dropping 1st 2 sets
Odds Are: Not listed
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Howard Fendrich has been the AP’s tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: https://apnews.com/author/howard-fendrich
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