Chaos in Men’s Draw Sets Up Wide-Open US Open While Women’s Field Holds Steady
- The men's singles draw at the US Open has descended into a chaotic scramble at Flushing Meadows, providing a sharp contrast to the relative calm of the women's...
- Talent, athleticism, and commitment are not nearly enough to capture a Grand Slam singles title.
- One argument is that the current top 10—outside of Sinner and Alcaraz—is weaker than it has been for a while, while illness, injuries, and fatigue also played decisive...
The men’s singles draw at the US Open has descended into a chaotic scramble at Flushing Meadows, providing a sharp contrast to the relative calm of the women’s tournament. Six of the top 10 men’s seeds perished by the fourth round, upending expectations and leaving the final week of the Grand Slam wide open.
Why US Open Men’s Contenders Have Tumbled
Talent, athleticism, and commitment are not nearly enough to capture a Grand Slam singles title. Players require unwavering belief—or, as former US Open runner-up Taylor Fritz describes it, “delusion”—to navigate the intense pressure of the world stage. Fritz himself squandered a two-set lead against Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo in the third round. With Jannik Sinner absent due to injury and Carlos Alcaraz staging his comeback from a long layoff, leading seeds faced what looked like a golden opportunity to capitalize at the year’s final major. Instead, the top tier crumbled under the physical and mental strains of a demanding season. “It shows you how even the circuit is, how tight every match is, how difficult it is to win matches,” 24th seed Cerundolo said, adding that “anything can happen right now.”
Pressure, Fatigue, and Physical Toll in New York
Pressure is not the sole factor behind the early exits. One argument is that the current top 10—outside of Sinner and Alcaraz—is weaker than it has been for a while, while illness, injuries, and fatigue also played decisive roles. Fourth seed Novak Djokovic saw his ageing body let him down in a shock first-round exit, and third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime blamed dizziness for his second-round defeat.
Fifth seed Flavio Cobolli reported a lack of energy during his third-round loss due to his heavy volume of matches and the sapping heat in New York. Teenage competitor Rafael Jodar, who has played more than 50 matches in his first full tour season, looked visibly drained during his opening-round exit. “The season is long. I think all the guys who performed well in the preparation tournaments have it more difficult here,” Belgium’s Alexander Blockx said after defeating Cobolli. We’re all human. We’re not robots. Every week is difficult. Especially at a Grand Slam where it gets even more physical.
Remaining Top Seeds and the Alcaraz Factor
Following Daniil Medvedev’s fourth-round exit on a Sunday, the only top-10 players remaining in the draw are top seed Alexander Zverev, defending champion Alcaraz, and eighth seed Ben Shelton. World number two Zverev finally secured his first major at the French Open but admitted afterward that he could not sleep and was “not eating” during previous Slam fortnights due to nerves.
Zverev continues to scramble through his half of the draw despite performing far from his best, while Alcaraz gathers momentum with every victory. The two-horse race between Sinner and Alcaraz is not healthy for the tour,
former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash told BBC Radio 5 Live. With every win, Alcaraz is becoming more of a favourite. Four months off, no matches and he could win the US Open.
In sharp contrast to the unpredictable men’s bracket, the women’s tournament has maintained relative calm, with 11 of the top 16 seeds successfully reaching the fourth round led by the two-time defending champion.
