US Open men’s power rankings – Does Carlos Alcaraz or Novak Djokovic take No. 1

The US Open gets underway on Monday, Aug. 28 and, as usual, there will be plenty to look out for at the final Grand Slam of the year. The biggest question mark heading into the next two weeks is: Can anyone stop Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic?

It is a Grand Slam that has produced five different men’s champions in the last five years — a bit of a different look from the other majors. Until Alcaraz’s win over Djokovic at Wimbledon in July, the other three Grand Slams had been by one of the “Big Three” —Djokovic, Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal — since 2017.

World rankings are one thing, a player’s record on the surface is another that could impact who will come out on top. It’s all just as slippery as the hard courts can get when it rains in Queens.

With that, Daily Express Sports US has taken a little bit of each of the current rankings, Grand Slam records and history at the US Open, mixed it all together and compiled the top 10 power rankings for men’s singles at the 2023 US Open.

1. Novak Djokovic

World Ranking: 2

First round opponent: Alexandre Muller

While Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka have all faded over time, Djokovic seems – remarkably – to be getting better with age. Injury problems are few and far between for the Serb who has reached the final in eight of the last nine Grand Slams he has played in, winning six to become the men’s singles all-time Grand Slam champio with 23 titles. For good measure, he is a three-time US Open champ – although not since 2018 – and topped Alcaraz in a grueling three-setter at the Cincinnati Open this August. The draw has set up well for the No. 2 seed too, and he’s our favorite to lift the trophy.

2. Carlos Alcaraz

World Ranking: 1

First round opponent: Dominik Koepfler

Despite that defeat to Djokovic in another thriller last week, Carlitos would be a worthy favorite and could have easily been atop this list, but the draw eventually dropped him down a spot. The world No. 1, defending US Open champion and the winner of the last major — after knocking off the all-time men’s Grand Slam leader in a stone-cold Wimbledon classic — does have a rough go to the Sept. 10. He’s expected to see Jannik Sinner is the quarters and Daniil Medvedev in the semis on the harder side of the draw.

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3. Jannik Sinner

World Ranking: 6

First round opponent: Yannick Hanfmann

The Italian has enjoyed a breakthrough over the last couple of months; a run to the semifinal at Wimbledon was his first at the Grand Slam level, and he followed it up with a first-ever Masters title in Toronto. He is widely regarded as the new era’s main rival to Alcaraz and seven of his eight titles have been on hard courts, including two Miami Opens.

4. Daniil Medvedev

World Ranking: 3

First round opponent: Attila Balazs

It is a surprise that Medvedev has not added to his lone Grand Slam title since his straight-sets win over Djokovic in New York two years ago. The 2021 champion has a love-hate relationship with the fans since getting under their skin in his run to the final in 2019. He took as much delight in taunting them as he did in seeing off his opponents. Masters titles in Miami and Rome are high points for him this season, and reaching Wimbledon’s semifinal hinted that his best form is not far away even if the consistency is not quite there.

5. Holger Rune

World Ranking: 4

First round opponent: Roberto Carballes Baena

The 20-year-old Dane is coming off quarterfinal appearances at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, giving him three deep Grand Slam runs under his belt. The phenomenal feats of Alcaraz make it easy to forget life on tour is tough for the younger players, but Rune is adjusting nicely. Two previous appearances in New York are reasons for encouragement: as an 18-year-old qualifier in 2021 he took a set off Djokovic in a first-round defeat, and last year he reached the third round as the 28th seed. 

6. Casper Ruud

World Ranking: 5

First round opponent: Qualifier

Three finals and three second-round exits at the last six Grand Slam tournaments tell you it is very much boom or bust for the 24-year-old Norwegian who is probably more at home on clay courts. The runner-up at the French Open for the last two years, he was beaten in four sets by Alcaraz in a surprise run to the US Open final last year. Much depends on his mood but looks good to make the quarters once again.

7. Frances Tiafoe

World Ranking: 10

First round opponent: Learner Tien

Tiafoe is coming of age on the tour, adding consistency to his explosive game across the last 12 months. It all came together in New York last year when he made a memorable run to the semifinals. The American won his second and third career singles titles this year to establish himself in the world’s top 10. A solitary quarterfinal in the post-Wimbledon hard court swing suggests he may have his eye fixed on Flushing Meadows, where his showmanship plays to the crowd and offers a chance at a major success – if he can bring everything together.

8. Alexander Zverev

World Ranking: 12

First round opponent: Aleksandar Vukic

The German is on a wave of resurgent form coming into the last major of the year — which also happens to be the only Grand Slam final he has reached. Six semifinals in his last 12 majors are a testament to his ability to mix it at the top, while Olympic gold in 2021 and two ATP Finals titles underline his love of the big occasion. Having dropped to 27th in the world at the end of May, he is back up to 12 and reached the Cincinnati Masters semifinals before being narrowly beaten by Djokovic.

9. Stefanos Tsitsipas

World Ranking: 7

First round opponent: Milos Raonic

Despite Milos Raonic, the big-serving Canadian, barely playing this season due to injury, its a less-than-ideal matchup in the opening round for Tsitsipas. Couple that with five wins in five years at the US Open, it does not do much for his hopes here either. With two first-round exits in his last four visits, including to a qualifier last year, it’s hard to make a decent case for the Greek. His best Grand Slam performances also usually come in the first half of the year with all seven quarterfinals — win or lose — played at the Australian or French Opens. Victory in Los Cabos a couple of weeks ago suggested he’s raring to go but that was before he suffered early exits in Toronto and Cincinnati.

10. Taylor Fritz

World Ranking: 9

First round opponent: Steve Johnson

First the positive: He is perhaps in better form than Tiafoe as far as the American hopefuls are concerned after a title in Atlanta, a semifinal in Washington, D.C., and a quarterfinal in Cincinnati. Now the negatives: He has just one Grand Slam quarterfinal in his 28 main draw appearances at a major; has never gone beyond the third round in New York; and has just four Grand Slam match victories this year. Playing better than ever, Fritz needs a run in a major and it could come over the next two weeks on home soil.

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