Alcaraz-Djokovic rivalry as Gauff bids to defend – players to watch in New York

The US Open, the final grand slam of the year, begins in New York on Monday.

Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff will bid to defend the titles they won last year, but a host of rivals will be out to dethrone them.

Here, we pick 10 players to watch at Flushing Meadows.

A post shared by Novak Djokovic (@djokernole)

Novak Djokovic will be going for a record 25th grand slam and his first since winning the 2023 title. The Serb’s drought in 2024 was ended with an impressive win at the Olympics and he will hope that can inspire him to a fifth title in New York.

A post shared by Coco Gauff (@cocogauff)

Coco Gauff landed an emotional first grand slam title in New York last year, becoming the first American teenager to win the US Open since Serena Williams in 1999. She will be hoping that the comparisons to Williams do not end there as she looks to dominate her home grand slam, where she will have a famously raucous crowd on her side.

The Spaniard has won the last two grand slams, triumphing at the French Open and Wimbledon, and he will be eyeing another title in New York, having first won in 2022. Alcaraz will be smarting from his Olympics final defeat to Djokovic and another instalment of their fantastic rivalry may be on the cards at Flushing Meadows.