MEN IN PLAY
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
Seeded: 1
Country: Serbia
Age: 34
2021: 38-5 record, 4 titles
Career: 85 singles titles, 20 Grand Slams
2020 U.S. Open: Defaulted, fourth round
Aces: Can overtake Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for most Grand Slam titles in men’s tennis by getting 21st. … Eyeing a calendar-year Grand Slam, something last accomplished by a man in 1969. … Exited tournament last year after being disqualified for accidentally hitting a line judge with a ball after losing a game.
Matchup: Could face 2014 runner-up Kei Nishikori in fourth round.
DANIIL MEDVEDEV
Seeded: 2
Country: Russia
Age: 25
2021: 40-10 record, 3 titles
Career: 12 titles, 0 Grand Slams
2020 U.S. Open: Lost in semifinals
Aces: First man other than Djokovic, Federer, Nadal or Andy Murray to be ranked No. 1 or No. 2 since July 2005. … Ability to make in-match adjustments is as strong as anyone’s in men’s tennis. … Runner-up to Djokovic at Melbourne Park in February and to Nadal at Flushing Meadows two years ago.
Matchup: Could face 2014 champion Marin Cilic in third round.
STEFANOS TSITSIPAS
Seeded: 3
Country: Greece
Age: 23
2021: 48-14 record, 2 titles
Career: 2021 Singles Titles: 2
Career: 7 titles, 0 Grand Slams
2020 U.S. Open: Lost in 3rd Round
Aces: Made breakthrough run to first Grand Slam final at Roland Garros. … Next major was not as successful: Lost in first round at Wimbledon to Frances Tiafoe. … Only 3-3 at Flushing Meadows.
Matchup: Faces three-time major champion Andy Murray in first round.
ALEXANDER ZVEREV
Seeded: 4
Country: Germany
Age: 24
2021: 38-11 record, 4 titles
Career: 17 titles, 0 Grand Slams
2020 U.S. Open: Runner-up
Aces: Won fifth Masters 1000 title at Cincinnati. … Blew a two-set lead against Dominic Thiem in the 2020 U.S. Open final before losing in a fifth-set tiebreaker. (Thiem is not entered this year because of a wrist injury).
Matchup: Faces big-serving American Sam Querrey in the first round.
MATTEO BERRETTINI
Seeded: 6
Country: Italy
Age: 25
2021: 33-8, 2 titles
Career: 5 titles, 0 Grand Slams
2020 U.S. Open: Lost in fourth round
Aces: Made first major final at Wimbledon before losing to Djokovic. … Has a classic big-hitting game built on booming serves and forehands.
Matchup: Could have a rematch against Djokovic in quarterfinals.
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WOMEN IN PLAY
ASHLEIGH BARTY
Seeded: 1
Country: Australia
Age: 25
2021: 40-7, 5 titles
Career: 13 titles, 2 Grand Slams
2020 U.S. Open: DNP
Aces: Sat out last year’s U.S. Open because of the pandemic. … Won second major trophy at Wimbledon. … Won hard-court title at Cincinnati. … 14-1 vs. top 20 this season. … Leads tour in match wins and final appearances (6 in 12 events).
Matchup: Could face 2021 Australian Open runner-up Jennifer Brady in fourth round.
ARYNA SABALENKA
Seeded: 2
Country: Belarus
Age: 23
2021: 38-14, 2 titles
Career: 10 titles, 0 Grand Slams
2020 U.S. Open: Lost in second round.
Aces: Never past fourth round at any Slam until her run to the semifinals at the All England Club in July. … Her powerful game — via serve and groundstrokes — should make her a contender on hard courts. But her career record at the U.S. Open is just 5-3. … Third on tour in 2021 with 286 aces, but also has most double-faults, 245.
Matchup: Could face 2019 Australian Open semifinalist Danielle Collins in the third round.
NAOMI OSAKA
Seeded: 3
Country: Japan
Age: 23
2021: 17-5, 1 title
Career: 7 titles, 4 Grand Slams
2020 U.S. Open: Won
Aces: Returns to Grand Slam action for the first time since pulling out before second round of French Open for a mental health break. … 4-0 in Grand Slam finals — the first woman to begin a career that way since Monica Seles 30 years ago — and 12-0 in quarterfinals, semifinals and title matches at majors.
Matchup: Could face 17-year-old American Coco Gauff in the fourth round.
BARBORA KREJCIKOVA
Seeded: 8
Country: Czech Republic
Age: 25
2021: 39-12, 3 titles
Career: 3 titles, 1 Grand Slam
2020 U.S. Open: DNP
Aces: Makes U.S. Open main-draw debut. … Won singles and doubles titles at the French Open in June and Tokyo Olympic gold in doubles in August. … Only has six singles appearances at majors.
Matchup: Could meet No. 9 Garbine Muguruza or No. 18 Victoria Azarenka in the fourth round.
SIMONA HALEP
Seeded: 12
Country: Romania
Age: 29
2021: 12-6, 0 titles
Career: 22 titles, 2 Grand Slams
2020 U.S. Open: DNP
Aces: Game keeps developing, built on strong backhand and big serve. … Got COVID-19 this year. Question: Can she avoid early stumble? Only first-round Slam exit so far came in New York in 2020.
Matchup: Could face 2017 U.S.Open champion Sloane Stephens or 2017 runner-up Madison Keys in the second round.
