2024 US Open: Can Djokovic and Gauff Defend Their Titles?

The US Open can often throw up surprise winners - and this year's Grand Slam finale could be no exception.

With the Olympics taking place just three weeks ago, players are arriving in New York with fewer minutes on a hard court than before, and with more miles in their legs.

"For somebody who is maybe more of a second-tier favourite, this is their year and opportunity."

Will Djokovic defend his title?

Novak Djokovic is the defending champion, but it remains to be seen if the emotional impact of winning a long-awaited Olympic gold on the Paris clay will affect his chances.

Djokovic prioritised the Olympics this year but would love to keep his record of winning at least one Slam title every year for the past seven years.

Victory in New York would secure his 25th major - the most of any singles player, male or female - and make Djokovic the oldest man in the Open era to win a Slam.

Djokovic will face tough competition from world number one Jannik Sinner, who beat him in the Australian Open semi-finals in January, and French Open and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz.

Sinner is the form player, having won the Cincinnati Open in the build-up to New York.

It was announced earlier this week that the Italian had been cleared of any wrongdoing after twice testing positive for a banned substance in March.

Alcaraz also beat Djokovic in the Wimbledon final, but the Serb got his revenge with a stunning win in the gold-medal match in Paris.

Outside of the top three, last year's runner-up Daniil Medvedev will be eyeing an elusive second Slam, while French Open finalist Alexander Zverev is also a contender.

Sabalenka bids for second Slam of the year

The women's draw, too, is in a state of flux.

Coco Gauff memorably won the title at Flushing Meadows last year but has struggled recently, losing in the second and third rounds of the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open respectively.

She has also been replaced as the second seed by Aryna Sabalenka, who triumphed in Cincinnati last week and looks a strong contender to better her runner-up showing from last year.

Jessica Pegula, born in Buffalo, New York, is also a favourite - although she will have to break her quarter-final jinx, having not progressed beyond the last eight at a major in six attempts.

World number one Iga Swiatek is always a threat, while Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen and Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova will be in the mix.

But injuries, illness and the switch from grass to clay to hard will have affected several players.

"On the women's side, it is very open," former world number one and ESPN analyst Chris Evert said.

"I do think that everyone's getting a little tired and it's been a long year. I can't say who's going to win with any kind of conviction right now."

Who is returning - and who won't be there?

This will be the first Grand Slam since Murray, the 2012 champion in New York, retired from the sport.

There will also be no Rafael Nadal, who withdrew earlier in August. The Spaniard is widely expected to retire at the end of the season, having struggled with injury over the past few years.

British number two Cameron Norrie is missing with a forearm injury, while last year's Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova is also absent.

Two-time champion Naomi Osaka makes her New York return for the first time since 2022, while 2020 champion Dominic Thiem has been granted a wildcard for the final major of his career.