"I wouldn't be surprised if Djokovic won the US Open"
The former world number one and commentator Mats Wilander believes that the Serbian player has a golden opportunity following Sinner's withdrawal and the uncertainty regarding Alcaraz's condition.
All eyes are once again on Novak Djokovic. The 24-time Grand Slam champion remains the favorite in most tournaments he participates in, with respect to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. There have been many occasions in the recent Grand Slams where the Belgrade player has been labeled as the favorite. And the situation at the US Open once again invites this.
The last Grand Slam of the season seems set to be the most open in recent years. With the last-minute withdrawal of Jannik Sinner due to his knee problems, the uncertainty around Carlos Alcaraz's return after being out for four and a half months due to a wrist injury, and the inconsistent hard court tour of Alexander Zverev, the dream of Djokovic's 25th Grand Slam again becomes a possibility.
Will the US Open 2026 be Djokovic's last great opportunity to win his 26th Grand Slam?
This is also the opinion of Mats Wilander, former world number one, seven-time Grand Slam champion, and Eurosport commentator, in statements collected by Sportklub: “I wouldn’t be surprised if Novak Djokovic won the US Open. He has achieved all the goals he has set so far, except one: winning his 25th Grand Slam. It has simply eluded him until now. But when this man wants something, he usually gets it. So I wouldn’t bet against him.”
However, there are several drawbacks that could thwart Djokovic's dream. The first is his physical condition. This was evident in his debut at the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati, where he lost in three sets to Agustín Tirante. The Serbian ran out of steam early in the second set, and combined with the heat in Ohio, this made the rest of the match a true nightmare for the Balkan.
Mats Wilander: "It wouldn't shock me if Novak Djokovic were to win the US Open trophy. He has accomplished every goal he has set out to do in tennis except for one. The 25th Grand Slam is the only one that has eluded him so far. But when this man wants something, he usually ends… pic.twitter.com/8g64TVcybR
— Danny (@DjokovicFan_) August 21, 2026
On top of this is his lack of match practice. Since his strong performance at Wimbledon, Djokovic has only been seen fleetingly in Cincinnati. That will be his preparation for the US Open. A situation reminiscent of last Roland Garros, where he arrived after falling in the second round of the Masters 1000 in Rome, in which he displayed a very inconsistent version far from his best level.
However, the Belgrade player retains the mystique of the great tennis legends, and it is well known that when he smells blood, his tennis rises to the highest standards. This has been said before at the Australian Open, also at Roland Garros, and again at Wimbledon. But, inevitably, it is repeated at the US Open Will this be the last opportunity for Novak Djokovic's 25th Grand Slam?
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, "No me sorprendería que Djokovic ganara el US Open"