CNN
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The stage is about for an additional epic showdown between them Novak Djokovic e Carlos Alcaraz no US Open which begins on monday
The pair thrilled tennis followers this season with two particular matches, the primary at Wimbledon closing and most lately on the Cincinnati Open.
Djokovic described final Sunday’s Cincinnati Open closing victory in opposition to Alcaraz as “one of many hardest matches” of his profession and the conflict of three units and virtually 4 hours will certainly be one of many nice tennis matches of all time.
World Nos 1 and a pair of respectively, Alcaraz and Djokovic performed otherworldly tennis in Cincinnati as the game’s rising rivalry continues to captivate followers within the absence of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
In reality, it is virtually not possible to see a US Open winner past Alcaraz, the defending champion, and Djokovic with the pair merely in a league of their very own in comparison with the remainder of the draw.
![Novak Djokovic won the Cincinnati Open on his return to the United States.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/230821105225-novak-djokovic-rookwood-cup.jpg?q=w_1110,c_fill)
Simply 20 factors separate Alcaraz from Djokovic on the high of the world rankings, earlier than a pointy drop of greater than 3,500 factors to third-placed Daniil Medvedev.
Males’s tennis has trusted epic rivalries between Nadal, Federer and Djokovic through the years and whereas it could be hyperbole to say that the emergence of Alcaraz saved the game, the Spaniard’s rise actually makes the transition to the subsequent period considerably smoother .
The 20-year-old loved a exceptional season in 2023, successful six titles together with Wimbledon – his second grand slam – and two Masters 1000s.
After his beautiful five-set victory over Djokovic within the Wimbledon closing, Alcaraz’s type briefly abandoned him in a shock quarter-final loss to Tommy Paul on the Canadian Open, however he bounced again brilliantly to play his greatest tennis of the season in his race to the ultimate in Cincinnati.
Alcaraz enters the match as the highest seed and faces a doable quarter-final rematch with Jannik Sinner, a yr after their epic five-set traditional that noticed Alcaraz win at 2.50 a.m. setting a report for the final end of a match at US Open.
He’s additionally on the identical facet of the draw as third seed Medvedev who he might face within the semi-finals.
“What Alcaraz has performed within the final yr is unbelievable,” seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe instructed Eurosport. “(It is) the very best I’ve seen at this age.
“Novak is superb how good he nonetheless is, to see the all-time nice sport in opposition to the brand new famous person is superb. I want to see that match performed once more.
“The final two video games have been shut and superb video games, hopefully it is going to final.”
Djokovic’s win over Alcaraz in Cincinnati was his fourth title of the yr, together with wins on the Australian Open and French Open to take his Grand Slam tally to 23.
![Carlos Alcaraz came out on top in a five-set epic at Wimbledon.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/230716140559-11-djokovic-alcaraz-wimbledon-final-0716.jpg?q=w_1110,c_fill)
The Serbian is in america for the primary time since 2021 attributable to his unvaccinated standing, however he made up for misplaced time by instantly returning to victory in Cincinnati.
Djokovic faces France’s Alexandre Muller within the first spherical and is in the identical quarter of the tie as Stefanos Tsitsipas.
He might now be 36 years outdated and firmly within the twilight of his profession, however Djokovic remains to be able to persistently producing his greatest tennis, that means followers seemingly have many extra matches to sit up for between the 2 greatest gamers on the earth.
As world No. 3 and former US Open champion. USA, Russia’s Medvedev is the most certainly of the chasing pack to trigger an upset at Flushing Meadows.
The 27-year-old confronted very contrasting fortunes within the first and second half of the season. Medvedev gained 5 ATP Tour titles within the first 5 months of 2023, together with two Masters 1000 tournaments and a three-match successful streak within the month of February.
Nonetheless, his type has largely dipped since successful his final title in opposition to Holger Rune on the Rome Masters.
Shortly after that match, Medvedev suffered a shock first-round loss to Thiago Seyboth Wild on the French Open and, aside from a career-best semi-final look at Wimbledon, has not gained greater than two matches in a match since.
Medvedev is actually a US Open contender, however his early type can solely be regained.
![Daniil Medvedev suffered a surprising loss to Thiago Seyboth Wild at the French Open.](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/230627142324-daniil-medvedev-stade-roland-garros-file-053022.jpg?q=w_1110,c_fill)
After reaching the ultimate in 2022, Capser Ruud, who has now misplaced in his three Grand Slam finals, has so much to play for as he hopes to defend the rating factors gained throughout final yr’s run.
The world No. 5 has additionally endured an up-and-down season, the height of which got here throughout a four-week window in Could and June when he reached the semi-finals of the Rome Masters after which the ultimate of the French Open.
Now with extra expertise in Grand Slam finals, maybe the 2023 US Open will lastly be the match Ruud banishes his Grand Slam closing demons.