John McEnroe, the legendary tennis commentator and former world No. 1, has issued a warning to the favorites at the upcoming US Open, urging them to be wary of potential surprises. McEnroe believes that while Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner are the top contenders, other skilled players could pose significant challenges.
Djokovic, the defending champion, has been underappreciated, according to McEnroe. “He’s done an amazing job of putting himself ahead of Rafa [Nadal] and Roger [Federer] in many ways,” McEnroe said. “It’s truly remarkable.”
However, McEnroe noted that Alcaraz, the world No. 1, may struggle due to mental and physical fatigue following recent losses and a busy schedule. “Alcaraz is my favorite player to watch right now,” McEnroe said. “But I’m sure, in a way, he probably needed a longer break.”
McEnroe also mentioned Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, and Grigor Dimitrov as potential threats to the favorites. “The door is certainly open for a surprise,” he said. “I think there’s a handful of guys who could potentially step up.”
McEnroe emphasized that while the “big three” of Djokovic, Alcaraz, and Sinner are expected to dominate, the US Open could see an unexpected winner if any of these players falter. “It’s hard to say,” McEnroe said. “But honestly, even with all that in mind, I’d probably still pick one of the big three guys to win it.”
