The 2024 US Open is upon us, and the men's draw is as intriguing as ever. With top players vying for the final Grand Slam of the year, let's dive into each quarter, potential milestones and predictions for the tournament.
All Odds courtesy of ESPN BET
First quarter
Jannik Sinner (-160) leads this quarter as the top seed. Sinner has been in excellent form, boasting a 48-5 record this year, including a victory at the Australian Open and appearances in at least the quarterfinals at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon. His path to a title includes potential challenges from players like Daniil Medvedev (+300) and Tommy Paul (+1000), both of whom can be formidable on hard courts. Sinner's sheer power makes him a favorite.
However, his health in a best-of-five format is questionable. At Wimbledon, Sinner struggled with dizziness and a lack of energy, requiring a medical timeout during his quarterfinal match against Medvedev. He has also been dealing with a recurring hip injury that flared up during the Cincinnati Open, causing him visible discomfort during matches. Although he went on to win that tournament, there were questions about whether Sinner would even play in the final.
Second quarter
Carlos Alcaraz (-280) is the key player in this quarter. The young Spaniard has already claimed two Grand Slam titles this year, winning at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, and is eyeing a third in New York, where he claimed his first Grand Slam title in 2022. Alcaraz's aggressive style and excellent court coverage are among his many strengths. He has arguably the toughest draw, with potential matchups against Alex De Minaur (+1000) and Sebastian Korda (+1200) and had a recent setback at the Cincinnati Open, where he lost his opening match. However, Alcaraz remains the betting favorite because of his overall performance this season and previous success at the 2022 US Open.
Third quarter
Alexander Zverev (+110) leads this quarter, looking to capitalize on his strong major performances this year. He has a 14-3 record and reached at least the semifinals at both the Australian Open and Roland Garros. Zverev's powerful serve and groundstrokes can dominate matches, but he will need to be consistent, as his quarter also features Taylor Fritz (+500), who reached the quarterfinals in last year's tournament.
Fourth quarter
Novak Djokovic (-250), the defending champion, is the favorite in this quarter and the second favorite to win the tournament. He has achieved every accolade under the sun in ATP, including Olympic gold last month. The question on everyone's mind is whether he will ride off into the sunset if he wins his 25th Grand Slam title. Potential challenges could come from Frances Tiafoe (+1200), who has reached at least the quarterfinals in back-to-back years.
Maldonado's pick: Djokovic to reach the final (-130)
Djokovic recently won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, defeating Alcaraz in the final. It wasn't just that he won, but how he won -- with tactical mastery. He managed to control the pace and direction of rallies, particularly excelling in the tiebreaks where he elevated his aggression and precision. His serving was elite and his return game stellar; it was the best version of Djokovic we've seen all year. Alcaraz played great tennis, but Djokovic was near-perfect.
If he brings that level of focus with his eye on his 25th Slam, along with a far less challenging draw, Djokovic has a solid chance of not just reaching the final but winning the tournament (+210). A victory would tie him with Roger Federer, Jimmy Connors and Pete Sampras for five US Open titles in the Open era. It sounds like another milestone Djokovic may want to chase to further solidify his GOAT status.