Alcaraz already has his first rival in the US Open and does not meet Djokovic until the semis; Jodar, on Zverev's side

Carlos Alcaraz, two-time US Open champion (2022 and 2026) you already know what your path to the long-awaited final in New York could be.

After a long time of inactivity, and after returning to the competition last Tuesday, 133 days after the wrist injury he suffered in Godó, he returned to compete in the mixed doubles of the great American to gain a rhythm of competition with Serena Williamsand after that, he will begin his journey in the individual box against Roman Safiullin after the draw of the US Open this Wednesday.

He 23-year-old Spanish tennis player needs to continue gaining sensations and rhythm and will begin by doing so against number 98 in the ATP rankinga Safiullin (Russia) who will begin to measure the level with which the Murcian tennis player, seeded number 2, returns.

After, The winner of the Faria-Brooksby would await him, to continue raising the bar in the face of the possibility of experiencing a crash against a seed, specifically, number 30, Matteo Arnaldi (number 34 in the ranking) in the third round, to confirm his feelings before facing very tough rivals.

And Carlos could be in eighth to Bublik or Tommy Paul and in the quarterfinals, to Shelton or Fils, tough opponents.

Of course, Alcaraz would not face Novak Djokovic or Tiafoe until a hypothetical semifinalsand with the number 1 seed, Zverev, until the final, just like Auger-Aliassime or Cobolli.

Upper part of the painting:

Zverev, at the top of the draw after the US Open drawUS Open

Bottom part of the painting:

The part of Alcaraz's draw at the US Open 2026 — The part of Alcaraz’s draw at the US Open 2026US Open

Djokovi, also at the bottom of the US Open drawUS Open

Jódar, in the same part of the draw as Zverev

Rafa Jódar from Madrid had worse luck. The number 13 tennis player in the ATP ranking fell in the same part of the quarterfinal draw with the first seed, Alexander Zverev, who would be found in a hypothetical quarterfinal.

Rafael Jodar of Spain serves to Brandon Nakashima of the United States during a semifinal tennis match at the National Bank Open in Montreal, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP) — Rafael Jódar, in actionChristinne Muschi / Ap-LaPresse

Jódar will begin his career at the US Open against Kokkinakisand if he wins, against the winner of Marozsan-Zheng. He wouldn’t meet a seed, Ruud, until the third round and in the second round, with De Minaursixth seed, until a hypothetical quarterfinal against Zverev if all the hierarchy predictions of the seeds come true.

Among the rest of Spaniards, Jaume Munar will debut against Terence Atmane and would be found Medvedev in third round; Carlos Taberner will face Zizou Bergs; Dani Merida open with Marton Fucsovics and would meet in the second round with Rublev. For its part, Martin Landalucelocated in the quadrant of Djokovicwill debut with a rival from the previous phase, and Pablo Carreno He has a committed debut against the talented Jiri Lehecka18th seed.