US Open prepares for main draw as top seeds prepare for New York

The US Open is entering its final stages of preparation in New York, with the main singles competition scheduled to run from August 30 to September 13. The men's draw draw is set for August 27.

Key players in the men's field include Alexander Zverev, the top seed, and Carlos Alcaraz, the defending champion, who returns following a four-month injury layoff. Novak Djokovic also enters the tournament as a top contender, positioned to potentially avoid the highest seeds until the semifinals. Felix Auger-Aliassime holds the third seed.

Historically, the tournament featured a unique rule where men and women used different tennis balls; women used Regular Duty balls while men used Extra Duty. Following criticism from players like Iga Swiatek, who argued the different balls were harder to control and led to more errors, the tournament transitioned to using Extra Duty balls for both genders starting in 2023.