The big storylines to watch at the 2023 US Open - ESPN

A potential Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz battle in the final. The continuation of Coco Gauff's red-hot summer on the hard court. The American men's collective quest to snap the now-20-year major title drought. The celebration of 50 years of equal pay.

The 2023 US Open is absolutely brimming with storylines and players to watch.

After a compelling and wildly entertaining tennis season, we've made it to the final Grand Slam of the year — and it could be one for the books.

Sure, there's no Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer, but tennis seems to have made it to its next chapter and is doing just fine. Will we see Djokovic make history in New York? Will Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek successfully defend their 2022 titles? Could this mark the official coronation of Gauff — or another American — by the end of the fortnight? Here is everything you need to know heading into the 2023 US Open.

After having his quest for his fifth straight Wimbledon title and the elusive Calendar Slam halted by Alcaraz in the final at the All England Club last month, Djokovic makes his return to the US Open following a one-year absence due to pandemic-era travel restrictions into the United States.

And if his performance at the Western & Southern Open — his lone hard-court tuneup event and first on the surface since February — was any indication, he's ready to avenge his surprising Wimbledon loss. En route to his 95th career title in Cincinnati, Djokovic held off the likes of Taylor Fritz and Alexander Zverev before coming back to win a thrilling and nearly four-hour final against Alcaraz, 5-7, 7-6(7), 7-6(4).

While Djokovic historically hasn't had the best results in New York in recent years and hasn't won the title since 2018, he