Zverev captured a long-awaited first Grand Slam title at the French Open this year and finished runner-up to world number one Sinner at Wimbledon.
The US Open looks more open than ever, and top-seeded Alexander Zverev says the absence of Jannik Sinner and questions surrounding defending champion Carlos Alcaraz as he returns from injury do little to enhance his own status as favorite. “I feel like I’m one of the 128 players that are favorites in the draw,” the German said as he prepared for the start of the last Grand Slam of the season on Sunday in Flushing Meadows.
“I think it would be disrespectful to just think ‘Oh, there’s no Sinner, it’s a massive opportunity. Pegula was beaten in the Cincinnati title match by a resurgent Gauff, who won the first of her two Grand Slam titles at the US Open in 2023.
“I expect him to be maybe a bit rusty the first or second match, but once he gets through that, I think he’s going to be a contender for sure here,” Zverev said. Djokovic said his early exit amid physical struggles in the Cincinnati Masters had a silver lining, allowing him to “really train and get my body and mind into the right state, prepared for what’s coming up. “I know how much quality that there is in the draw,” Shelton said. “There’s not one or two super-dominant players where you feel like they have to lose in order for you to have a chance,” said Pegula, who has won two titles this season and reached three other finals.
