NEW YORK -- Carlos Alcaraz will open the defense of his US Open title against an opponent who made a strong run at Wimbledon while the Spaniard was sidelined with an injury.
Along with some interesting opening-round matches, the draws for men's and women's singles Thursday delivered one what-could-have-been possibility: Had Serena Williams decided to play, there could have been a Williams sisters showdown in Round 1.
When Venus Williams was given a wild card into the event at 46, the U.S. Tennis Association initially held one spot, which surely would have gone to Serena if the six-time US Open champion wanted to play after returning to tennis for the first time since 2022. When the 44-year-old decided to compete only in doubles, the USTA awarded that last wild card over the weekend to American Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion.