There will be a new Grand Slam champion in men’s tennis.
Serial winners Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic had shared the past 13 major titles between them. They won’t win this tournament.
Djokovic, the world No. 1 from Serbia, was the only player left in the last-16 of the US Open draw who had previously won a Slam. Few expected anyone other than the 33-year-old to get their hands on the trophy.
Now, they will. In the most extraordinary of circumstances, Djokovic was defaulted from his clash with Pablo Carreno Busta on Sunday as he hit a ball in frustration that went straight into a line judge’s throat.
As a result, he has lost all of his prize money but, more importantly, he has also seen a glorious opportunity to close the gap on Federer and Nadal at the top of the all-time Grand Slam charts slip through his fingers.
Djokovic’s loss will be someone’s gain, however.
Carreno Busta has already benefitted by advancing to the quarter-finals, where he will face Denis Shapovalov. The winner will take on either Alexander Zverev or Borna Coric in the semi-finals.
The other half of the draw is still at the last-16 stage.
It contains the only two male players left in the tournament who have reached a Slam final: Daniil Medvedev and Dominic Thiem.
Thiem meets Andy Murray’s conqueror Felix Auger-Aliassime on Monday, with Medvedev taking on home favourite Frances Tiafoe.
The pair will be the favourites to reach the final in the bottom half of the draw, but the likes of Vasek Pospisil, Alex de Minaur, Andrey Rublev and Matteo Berrettini will all be hoping to secure an unlikely first major win.
Assessing the draw, former British No. 1 Greg Rusedski picked last year’s runner-up Medvedev as his new favourite.
‘The draw opens up,’ Rusedski told Amazon Prime. ‘You couldn’t write this script. It’s quite unbelievable.
‘Thiem has been the nearly man at Slams, the French Open, he must sense this opportunity.
‘The young Canadian [Auger-Aliassime] has been the revelation of this tournament, he beat Murray and backed it up in the next match. I think there’s a group of guys that can possibly take this title.
‘Daniil Medvedev is probably the No. 1 seed in my opinion, even though Thiem is No. 2 seed in this. Then you’d put Thiem in the category as well. Don’t forget Berrettini and Rublev as well.
‘But in the top half, Zverev must be thinking to himself: “I can’t have a better draw to get a Grand Slam final now” with Djokovic dropping out.’
Fellow former British No. 1 Henman added: ‘I think you can put a great case for many players.
‘Shapovalov [is] playing well. There’s Coric who has come through a great section, Zverev is through to the quarter-finals.
‘You can go down the draw and say Medvedev’s time – he’s been in the final, Thiem has been in three Grand Slam finals, so I think that just adds to the excitement.
‘We don’t want Federer, Nadal and Djokovic to leave the game yet but this is a big chance for someone to make a name for themselves.’
Rating the contenders
Daniil Medvedev – His awkward playing style will be a test for any player in the draw, gets my vote for new tournament favourite: 7/10
Dominic Thiem – He has only been beaten by Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in Grand Slam finals so if he does arrive in Sunday’s final, he will fancy his chances. A tough draw awaits him, though, so could come unstuck: 6/10
Alexander Zverev – A glorious opportunity for a man who for a long period looked a certainty to lead the Next Gen into the brave new world beyond the ‘Big Three’. Won’t get a better opportunity to reach a first Grand Slam final with major threats Stefanos Tsitsipas and Djokovic falling early: 6/10
Felix Auger-Aliassime – Arguably playing the best tennis of anyone on this list but also has the toughest draw. If he can come through Thiem, he will start to believe but I suspect this tournament will come too soon for the 20-year-old: 4/10
Denis Shapovalov – Another young Canadian with a fabulous future in front of him, his all-action tennis makes him one of the most watchable players on tour. In Djokovic’s half, he has a better chance than most, but he may still be too erratic to go all the way: 4/10
Borna Coric – Could be the biggest threat to Zverev remaining in the top half of the draw. Leads their head-to-head 3-1 and if he adds another win to that list, he may find the momentum to go all the way: 4/10
Andrey Rublev – Capable of big-time tennis and a quarter-final against fellow Russian Medvedev has the potential to be a thriller. Would still likely have to come through Medvedev, Thiem and Zverev to win it, though: 2/10
Matteo Berrettini – A semi-finalist here last year but in the wrong side of the draw this time around: 1/10
Frances Tiafoe – The last American standing but he’ll do well to get beyond Medvedev on Monday: 1/10
Vasek Pospisil – A surprise he’s made it this far. In great form but surely won’t have the legs to go the whole way: 1/10
Alex de Minaur – A willing runner but hard to see him getting his hands on the title: 1/10
Pablo Carreno Busta – Through in the most remarkable of circumstances but really hard to see him going through the remaining talent: 1/10
MORE: Djokovic defaulted from the US Open after hitting line judge with a ball
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