US Open News: Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz on same half, world number one Daniil Medvedev in the tricky path

The race to become the top-ranked player in the ATP Pepperstone Live Rankings will commence as the top seed and defending champion Daniil Medvedev is looking at a difficult path ahead at Flushing Meadows. 

He could face Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios in the fourth round. Meanwhile, Nadal walks into the year’s final Major with the highest chances of reclaiming the top rank. 

The four-time US Open champion will be responsible for his fate as he starts his bed to lift the trophy. The 26-year-old will climb to the top of the men’s tennis ladder. 

Nadal will be looking for his fifth title in New York as he starts his campaign against Australian Rinky Hijikata, who challenged Medvedev in a thrilling two-setter in Los Cabos.

If Nadal pulls through, he could face a second-round clash against Fabio Fognini, who beat the Spaniard in five sets in 2015. Other remarkable players in Nadal’s quarter of the draw include Cameron Norrie, Diego Schwartzman, Denis Shapovalov and home favourite Frances Tiafoe. 

Alcaraz could become the youngest top-ranked player

Alcaraz could script history as the youngest number one in the history of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings over the next two weeks. The 19-year-old, a quarter-finalist in the previous edition of the US Open, will tackle Sebastian Baez in the opening round. 

Another top seed in their quarter of the draw is Hubert Hurkacz. On the other hand, Borna Coric, who emerged as the Western & Southern Open winner, could be pitted against Alcaraz in the third round.

Medvedev, who could walk out of the tournament as world number one, is to open his title defence against American Stefan Kozlov, who lost to the Russian 6-2 6-2 in the 2016 Wimbledon qualifier, the only time they met. 

The 26-year-old could face American Ben Shelton in the third and Australian Nick Kyrgios in the fourth round. Kyrgios bested Medvedev in three sets in Montreal, so the match is expected to be challenging for both players.

However, he will undergo a tough opening match against his doubles partner and countryman Thanasi Kokkinakis. Fourth seed Tsitsipas has never advanced as far as the second week in New York. 

In the third round, the Greek will try to dispatch a qualifier, American Maxime Cressy. Ruud, who entered the third round at the US Open in 2020, is the fifth seed, and the Norwegian player will encounter Briton Kyle Edmund in the first round. 

World number 666 Edmund is still recovering from an injury. After his winning US Open run in 2020, Dominic Thiem will return to New York for the first time and compete against Montreal champion Pablo Carreno Busta.