The final Grand Slam of the year is upon us and there are four guys who genuinely have a shot at going all the way.
New York will also be saying goodbye to a legendary Frenchman.
(3)Félix Auger-Aliassime
Last year’s semi-finalist is the third seed. The 25-year-old Canadian is in the top half of the draw and opens against Australian Rinky Hijikata. Twelve months ago Auger-Alliasime entered the draw as the 25th seed and secured wins over Alexander Zverev, Andrey Rublev and Alex de Minaur before falling to eventual runner-up Jannik Sinner in four sets. The first seed FAA could face is Peruvian (32)Ignacio Buse, the Winston-Salem champion, in the third round. Would very much like to see a meeting with fifth seed Flavio Cobolli in the quarter-finals. They last met at the same stage at Roland Garros earlier in the season.
(8)Ben Shelton
The American No 1 successfully defended his Canadian Open crown earlier this summer and is the No 8 eight seed in New York. Shelton has been handed a tricky first-round opponent in the shape of world No 56 Tallon Griekspoor, and will likely face former world No 6 Hubert Hurkacz in round two. The talented lefty has a 9-4 record in New York and reached the semi-finals in 2023. The first seed the American could face is 29th seed Cameron Norrie in round three. If all goes well according to seedings, a blockbuster, first-time meeting at Grand Slam level with 10th seed Arthur Fils is projected in round four.
(10)Arthur Fils
The Cincinnati champion is arguably the best player in the world right now. The 22-year-old Frenchman secured a historic victory last week at the Masters 1000, beating Frances Tiafoe in a three-set championship match – the first all-black final at Masters level. As a result, Fils is up to a career-high 11 in the world rankings and enters New York as the 10th seed. Former world No 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas will be his round-one opponent. With no points to defend after sitting out last year’s tournament due to injury, expect the 22-year-old Frenchman to pick up from where he left off in Cincy.
(11)Frances Tiafoe
Tiafoe, a two-time US Open semi-finalist, is the 11th seed this year. Big Foe, coming in off the back of a runner-up finish in Cincinnati, is on the list of American men being touted as a potential winner. The American No 3, and current world No 12, takes on compatriot Martin Damm for a second year in a row – the pair met in round two and Tiafoe came out on top in four sets. The first seed Big Foe could face is (22)Valentin Vacherot in round three. Former champion Daniil Medvedev, the seventh seed, would be a likely opponent in the fourth round.
(W)Gaël Monfils
Playing the US Open one final time before he hangs up the racket for good at the end of the season, the wildcard recipient, who turns 40 on September 1, takes on Adolfo Daniel Vallejo in round one. The Frenchman teamed up with his wife Elina Svitolina for mixed doubles during Fan Week and reached the quarter-finals. La Monf achieved one of his best Grand Slam singles results in New York when he reached the semis in 2016. The send off at Flushing Meadows, whenever it happens, will be special.
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard
The 23-year-year old Frenchman is searching for form and currently finds himself just outside the top 100 – 104th. Mpethsi Perricard, who is a two-time titlist on the ATP Tour, has not won a main-draw match since June in Stuttgart where he reached the quarter-finals. GMP faces Austrian qualifier Jurij Rodionov in the first round and will likely play 17th seed Jakub Mensik in the second round. Get through those two matches and we could have another GMP-La Monf affair in round three.
Who are you looking forward to watching and who is your pick to win the whole thing? Drop your comments below.
Words by Eugene