The US Open ended on Sunday, with the historic coronations of Djokovic and Coco Gauff. Summary of a fortnight which delivered all its promises, except perhaps for the French.
The Arthur-Ashe court was once again the scene of history this weekend. Perhaps the completion of a legend on Sunday, with Novak Djokovic’s 24th Grand Slam title, a new absolute record for men. Even if the Serbian seems to still have the resources to win other big victories beyond his 36 years, this coronation at the US Open will perhaps remain as the one which places him alone in the world, ahead of a Rafael Nadal who will return in 2024 with the ambition to compete with it again. By masterfully dominating Daniil Medvedev in the final (6-3, 7-6, 6-3), “Nole” concluded a brilliant and almost trouble-free fortnight for him, if we except for his little scare in five sets against his compatriot Laslo Djere in the third round.
The day before, it was the first page of a legend that we hope will be just as long as Flushing Meadows lived, with the first Grand Slam coronation of the prodigy Coco Gauff. The 19-year-old American will have a hard time putting an end to the comparisons with Serena Williams, winning like her elder her first Grand Slam at home before she turned 20. To achieve this, she had to overthrow the new world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the final (2-6, 6-3, 6-2). Helped by a public won over to her cause, she won the biggest tournament of her young career and will have to continue to deal with the pressure of her special status: that of a player so talented that many more are expected of her. Grand Slam success.
As in all Grand Slam tournaments this season, with the exception of Caroline Garcia at Wimbledon, no French woman has reached the round of 16 of the US Open. Among the women, the failure was scathing since only Clara Burel made it to the third round, where she was logically swept away by Aryna Sabalenka. Caroline Garcia, the only long-term hope in the American tournament, was beaten in the first round by the Chinese Yafan Wang, and confirms that she is no longer part of the elite of women’s tennis, while waiting, hopefully, a rebound in 2024.
Among the men, on the other hand, the absence of representatives in the second week hides a rather encouraging result, with notably three French people in the third round. Adrian Mannarino, Arthur Rinderknech and Benjamin Bonzi, all authors of their best career in a Major this season, failed respectively against Frances Tiafoe, Andrey Rublev and Dominic Stricker. Logical but encouraging defeats, like that of Arthur Fils against the excellent Matteo Arnaldi, after eliminating world 24 Tallon Griekspoor in the first round. The Frenchman, the youngest player in the men’s top 50, continues to gain experience and progress in his game, before perhaps reaching a milestone next year. Finally, we will remember the beautiful and promising story of Titouan Droguet, aged 22 and winner in the first round of Lorenzo Musetti, 18th in the world, after qualifying for a Grand Slam for the first time in his career.
Carlos Alcaraz, eliminated in the semi-final by Daniil Medvedev, had a very good tournament and continues to gain experience. But from now on, only a won tournament is a successful tournament for the Spaniard, who returns his throne of world number one to Novak Djokovic. Less positive to draw for Iga Swiatek, eliminated in the round of 16 by Jelena Ostapenko and who lost her place as leader of the WTA rankings to finalist Aryna Sabalenka. On the good news side, the Italian Matteo Arnaldi and the Australian Rinky Hijikata, both 22 years old, were the surprise guests of the round of 16. They reached this stage for the first time in their Grand Slam career, and made two very promising runs for the 2024 season. Young Ben Shelton, 20, reached the first Major semi-final of his career at home , but stopped at this stage against the future Serbian winner. In men’s doubles, the Ram-Salisbury pair won the title for the third year in a row, while Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe won their first Grand Slam trophy together, in the women’s doubles.
Here is the US Open record over the last fifteen years for men:
