Alcaraz draws a challenging section in the 2025 US Open

23/08/2025 11:35:00 sport

Carlos Alcaraz's quest for his second US Open title promises to be full of obstacles.

Current world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz has landed in a relatively tough draw on paper at the final Grand Slam of the year – the 2025 US Open.

In the opening round, Alcaraz will face the tallest player in the world – Reilly Opelka. While Carlitos is expected to win, this match will surely be demanding as Opelka possesses a thunderous serve and will be playing on home soil.

Alcaraz lọt nhánh đấu 'khó thở' ở US Open 2025 690406 — Reilly Opelka – a formidable giant challenge that Carlos Alcaraz must confront in his opening US Open match this year

Alcaraz’s opponents in the second and third rounds appear less daunting. If he beats Opelka, he will face either Mattia Bellucci or Shang Juncheng, followed likely by Eliot Spizzirri or Rinky Hijikata, rather than the seeded Luciano Darderi, who is not highly rated on hard courts.

The real test for Carlitos will come in the fourth round, where he is likely to meet Daniil Medvedev. Although Medvedev’s form has dipped significantly over the past two years, his experience and resilience in big matches remain formidable. Another potential opponent in this round is fellow countryman Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

In the quarterfinals, Alcaraz is expected to face Ben Shelton, along with other possible contenders like Casper Ruud or Jiri Lehecka. The toughest rival for the young Spaniard in this section is the Grand Slam record-holder – Novak Djokovic.

Alcaraz lọt nhánh đấu 'khó thở' ở US Open 2025-690404 — Carlos Alcaraz could face Novak Djokovic in the 2025 US Open semifinals if everything goes according to plan

Alcaraz enters the US Open with a relaxed mindset, needing to defend only 60 points due to an early exit last year. He also has a strong chance to challenge the world No. 1 spot held by Jannik Sinner. If Sinner unexpectedly loses in the first round—a highly unlikely scenario—he would lose 2,000 points, potentially ceding the top ranking to his main rival.

Alcaraz claimed the US Open title three years ago by defeating Casper Ruud in the final. However, his results in the last two seasons have been inconsistent, highlighted by a second-round loss last year to Botic Van De Zandschulp.

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