Alcaraz surrenders top ranking but looks to keep US Open title

NEW YORK: Carlos Alcaraz has already surrendered the number one world ranking and will be in no mood to give up his US Open title as well when the Spaniard begins the defence of his Flushing Meadows crown on Tuesday (Aug 29).

The season's final Grand Slam began on Monday with a change at the top after Novak Djokovic demolished Frenchman Alexandre Muller to ease into the second round - a result that meant the Serb will replace Alcaraz as world number one when the rankings are updated on Sep 11.

But Alcaraz will have the number one attached to his name for the duration of the Flushing Meadows fortnight and he will open his account with an evening contest against Germany's Dominik Koepfer under the Arthur Ashe Stadium lights.

Alcaraz, bidding to become the first man to successfully defend his US Open crown since Roger Federer won five straight from 2004 to 2008, has appeared unsteady at times on the North American hardcourts during the run-up to the season's final Grand Slam but should have little trouble dealing with the 75th ranked Koepfer.

If Alcaraz can repeat as US Open champion, he will end the longest drought of a successful men’s title defence at any Grand Slam tournament since tennis turned professional in 1968.

With Alcaraz and Djokovic hogging the spotlight, Daniil Medvedev has been the forgotten man but the third seeded Russian remains a threat to claim his second US Open title in three years.

Medvedev starts against 34-year-old Hungarian Attila Balazs, who retired from competitive tennis in 2014 and began coaching before resuming his career in 2016.

Andy Murray, the 2012 US Open champion, will attempt to turn back the clock when he takes on young Frenchman Corentin Moutet in contest that could give the 36-year-old