Novak Djokovic will begin his quest for an elusive 25th Grand Slam title at the US Open against American Learner Tien.
It is a fairly tough start for the Serbian, whose last Grand Slam success came at Flushing Meadows in 2023.
After Djokovic withdrew from the Cincinnati Open, however, the 38-year-old has given himself more time to prepare for the last Slam of the year.
He should also be boosted by his draw beyond the first round, with Djokovic being unable to meet one particular foe until the final, at the earliest.
Novak Djokovic cannot meet Jannik Sinner at the US Open until the final
Seeded seventh in New York, Djokovic has been placed in American Taylor Fritz’s quarter.
Should he get past Tien in the opening round, he will play a qualifier in round two, before potentially meeting his first seed of the tournament, 20-year-old Alex Michelsen, in round three.
Holger Rune or Francis Tiafoe could then await him in round four, before a potential match-up with Fritz in the quarter-final, should the fourth seed come through his side of the draw unscathed.
Assuming Djokovic comes through that, he could play 2022 champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinal.
While a tough proposition, Djokovic has already beaten Alcaraz at a Grand Slam this year, coming through four gruelling sets in the quarterfinal of the 2025 Australian Open.
It also means that the Serbian will avoid any potential clash with Jannik Sinner until the final.
Considering Sinner has knocked Djokovic out of Wimbledon and the French Open already this season, it should provide a welcome boost to the four-time US Open champion to know that he can’t play the Italian earlier on in the tournament.
Jannik Sinner could face multiple banana skins at the 2025 US Open
As defending champion, Sinner already has a target on his back coming into the 2025 US Open.
His preparations for the tournament have not been ideal, either, with Sinner retiring ill in the final of the Cincinnati Open and pulling out of the revamped mixed doubles at Flushing Meadows as a result.
He has also been handed a tough draw in New York, with a potential clash with 2024 Canadian Open winner Alexei Popyrin in round two.
Alexander Bublik, who beat Sinner at the 2025 Halle Open, is also in Sinner’s bracket, as is tenth seed Lorenzo Musetti, Wimbledon quarterfinalist Flavio Cobolli, and fifth seed Jack Draper.
The Italian might therefore have to navigate several tough ties to make the semi-final, where he could then meet German third-seed Alexander Zverev.