Grand slam season ends with US Open

Reigning champion Alcaraz aims to defend his title; Djokovic aims to equalize 'player with most Grand Slam titles in singles' record

By Huseyin Burak Demirer

ANKARA (AA) — The 2023 US Open, the last of the season's four Grand Slams, will begin on Monday.

The two-week competition, held for the first time in 1881, will kick off for the 143rd time this year on Aug. 28.

A record $65 million will be handed out this year as prize money and player compensation.

The awards given to the women's singles and men's singles champions increased from $2.6 million to $3 million each.

- Djokovic after all-time record

Serbian superstar Novak Djokovic, who has three championships in the men's singles (2011, 2015, and 2018), was unable to participate in the 2022 US Open because foreign nationals after refusing to be vaccinated for the coronavirus, a requirement for foreign participants.

The 36-year-old aims to win his 24th Grand Slam title and equalize with Margaret Court, who holds the record in singles.

Top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz will be the biggest obstacle in the path of 2nd-seed Djokovic, who lost to the defending champion in the Wimbledon final.

The 20-year-old Spaniard won his first career Grand Slam title at the 2022 US Open and will take to the court this year to defend his title.

Another legend, Rafael Nadal, who has been away from tennis since January due to injury, will miss the US Open, which he won four times.

- Women's singles

Though many see Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka, the top two in the world rankings, as this year's favorites, the stats shows different players have won in eight of the last nine US Opens.

Along with Jessica Pegula (seed 3) and Coco Gauff (6), Elena Rybakina (4) and last year's finalist Ons Jabeur (5) are notable names in the women's singles.

- US Open records

Most singles winners:

Men's:

*Richard Sears (US), *Bill Tilden (US), *Bill Larned (US) - 7 times

Jimmy Connors (US), Pete Sampras (US), Roger Federer (Switzerland) - 5

*Robert Wrenn (US), John McEnroe (US), Rafael Nadal (Spain) - 4

Women's:

*Molla Bjurstedt Mallory (Norway/US) - 8 times

*Helen Wills (US) - 7

Chris Evert (US), Serena Williams (US) - 6

Most consecutive winners:

Men's: