US Open revamps mixed doubles format, adds $1 million prize to incentivize "biggest names in the sport"

After playing one of—if not the—men’s match of the 2022 season at Flushing Meadows—Alcaraz and Sinner have once again landed in the same quarter of the New York major, a revelation that came just after the two practiced with each other inside Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday. (Click here for the full draw.) A year ago, Alcaraz saved a match point en route to toppling his contemporary at 2:50 a.m., the latest finish in US Open history. The then 19-year-old went on to capture the title for his first major to become the youngest No. 1 in ATP history.

The two have since traded hard-court meetings at this year’s Sunshine Double, with Alcaraz winning at Indian Wells and Sinner reversing the outcome in Miami. The Italian is coming off winning his first Masters 1000 title in Toronto, while Alcaraz added the title of Wimbledon champion to his resume.

The first order of business: each navigating four rounds to make the second act viable. Alcaraz opens with left-hander Dominik Koepfer and has No. 16 seed Cameron Norrie, No. 24 seed Tallon Griekspoor and No. 26 seed Dan Evans, who won the ATP 500 in Washington, D.C., as potential obstacles.

Sinner and Alcaraz dueled for 5 hours and 15 minutes in a quarterfinal for the ages last year.

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Sinner’s road to the last eight looks to be even tougher, as he starts with Yannick Hanfmann, While his first possible seed is No. 30 Tomas Martin Etcheverry, countryman Lorenzo Sonego could await in round two, and a first-round clash between 2016 champion Stan Wawrinka and Yoshihito Nishioka could provide an intriguing third-round opponent for Sinner. In the round of 16, 2020 finalist Alexander Zverev (the No. 12 seed), 2019 semifinalist Grigor Dimitrov (the No. 19 seed) and 2012 title holder Andy Murray (unseeded) are all in the mix.

The other projected quarterfinals see some all-too-familiar matchups:

Second quarter: No. 3 seed Daniil Medvedev vs. No. 8 seed Andrey Rublev
Third quarter: No. 5 seed Casper Ruud vs. No. 4 seed Holger Rune
Fourth quarter: No. 6 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. No. 2 seed Novak Djokovic

Back in Queens for the first time since falling one match short of a calendar-year Grand Slam in 2021, Djokovic opens with Alexandre Muller of France. The winner of the Australian Open and Roland Garros this season, Djokovic will once again bid to win an all-time record-tying 24th major, after being edged out by Alcaraz in a five-set thriller at Wimbledon.

Three American men are seeded inside the Top 16 and all landed in the same half. Ninth seed Taylor Fritz starts with USTA Wild Card Challenge winner Steve Johnson; No. 10 seed Frances Tiafoe, a semifinalist in 2022, faces USTA Boys’ 18s champion Learner Tien; and No. 14 seed Tommy Paul launches his campaign against a qualifier.

Tsitsipas drew Milos Raonic in what could be the Canadian's final Grand Slam event of his career. One player who announced the US Open is his swan song, John Isner, meets Facundo Diaz Acosta in the first round.