In an era of men’s tennis in which one or possibly two players have tended to lock up each individual major, the U.S. Open stands apart.
Not since 2008 has a man successfully defended the title here, when Roger Federer won the last of his five U.S. Opens.
All of the other majors have been successfully defended far more recently — either this year or last year, by Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz.
The last 11 editions of the U.S. Open men’s singles tournament have included eight different winners.
All of which sets up the week ahead as the clash between the tennis metronome, the player who typifies calm and control, Sinner, and the venue which exudes chaos.
