Carlos Alcaraz will defend the US Open having not played a competitive match for four months. He opens against Roman Safiullin, and the draw does not get easier after that.
The wrist injury that kept him out since the spring is the whole story of his tournament. A defending champion arriving without match practice is one problem; a defending champion arriving without match practice into a section that offers no gentle first week is another.
The field has thinned around him
Jannik Sinner, the world number one, withdrew injured. So did Britain’s Jack Draper. Two of the players who would have been expected to stand between Alcaraz and a second consecutive title are not in New York at all, which makes the men’s draw the most open it has been at a major in some time — and makes the fitness of the man holding the trophy the most interesting question in it.
The undercard has its own draw
Stan Wawrinka was given a late wildcard for what will be the final Grand Slam of his career, having initially not received one. Serena and Venus Williams were given a doubles wildcard, and will play a major together for the first time in four years.
Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik have already won something here: the mixed doubles title, and the million dollars that came with it, saved from two match points on the way.
