Novak Djokovic will attempt to become the first man to win a calendar-year Grand Slam in 52 years – not to mention the all-time leader in Grand Slam titles – when he enters the US Open as the clear favorite in New York this week.
Djokovic begins his quest with a first-round match with Holger Rune on Tuesday.
Djokovic sees opportunity to make history
There’s little doubt that Djokovic will sail through that matchup. FanDuel Sportsbook lists the Serbian as the -10000 favorite to advance to the second round, and Djokovic shouldn’t face stiff resistance for at least the first three or four rounds.
Winning seven straight matches for the fourth time this year is a taller task. But oddsmakers believe Djokovic has an excellent chance of winning the US Open and completing a season sweep of the Grand Slam Events. Djokovic comes in as the -150 pick to win the men’s title.
“I know how big of an opportunity is in front of me,†Djokovic told reporters. “I’m very motivated to play my best tennis. I’m hugely inspired and motivated by that, no doubt.â€
Djokovic will also look to erase memories of his unfortunate exit from last year’s tournament. He defaulted during his fourth-round match with Pablo Carreno Busta when he angrily struck a ball and accidentally hit a line official in the throat.
This year, a couple of notable absences have enhanced Djokovic’s chances of winning. Both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are out of the US Open due to injuries. Defending champion Dominic Thiem will also miss the tournament due to a right wrist injury. Daniil Medvedev (+430) now comes in as the second choice on the board, ahead of fellow young guns Alexander Zevrev (+650) and Stefanos Tsitsipas (+1700).
Barty, Osaka top women’s US Open field
There’s a bit more drama in the women’s US Open draw, though one player still stands as the clear favorite. Ashleigh Barty enters as the +360 pick to win in New York after her victory in Wimbledon. The Australian has won four titles this year and holds the No. 1 ranking in the world.
“This journey for me this year has been remarkable,†Barty told reporters. “Even though there have been some tough moments, that’s made the better moments all the more enjoyable I think being able to see the positives and learn from both sides has been a crucial part of our year. We’ve had a lot of fun.â€
| US Open Odds – Tournament Winner (via FanDuel Sportsbook) | |
| Men’s Draw | Women’s Draw |
| Novak Djokovic: -150 | Ashleigh Barty: +360 |
| Daniil Medvedev: +430 | Naomi Osaka: +600 |
| Alexander Zverev: +650 | Aryna Sabalenka: +1400 |
| Stefanos Tsitsipas: +2400 | Iga Swiatek: +1400 |
| Matteo Berrettini: +2900 | Karolina Pliskova: +1800 |
| Andrey Rublev: +4500 | Coco Gauff: +1800 |
| Denis Shapovalov: +5000 | Barbora Krejcikova: +1800 |
| Andy Murray: +5000 | Bianca Andreescu: +2200 |
Barty faces stiff competition in the form of Naomi Osaka (+600). While Osaka skipped Wimbledon and dropped out of the French Open to focus on her mental health this summer, there’s little reason to believe she’ll be rusty on the court. Osaka has won two of the last three US Opens, and won the Australian Open for the second time earlier this year as well.
Other top contenders for the women’s US Open title include Aryna Sabalenka (+1400), Iga Swiatek (+1400), Karolina Pliskova (+1800), and Coco Gauff (+1800).
