It’s time once again for the Chaos Slam.
None of tennis’ biggest tournaments boast the sheer unpredictability of the US Open. In the past nine years, 13 different men and 15 different women have reached the finals — only Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams have done it multiple times in that span — and seven different men and eight women have won the title. There’s evidently something about the buzz of New York (or maybe it’s just the humidity) that brings out both the best and the weirdest moments the sport has to offer.
Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek are your defending champions, and they are among this year’s favorites as well. But no one has repeated as women’s champion since Williams in 2014, and no one has repeated as men’s champ since Roger Federer in 2008. Time to brace ourselves for whatever chaos comes our way. Here are 30 players who could become this year’s main characters.
Tier 1: The favorites
Novak Djokovic
Caesars title odds: +120
Tennis Abstract odds: 41%
Since his most recent US Open title in 2018, Djokovic has won four Australian Opens, three Wimbledons…
