 Okay everybody, it's official. We're gonna go through the draw. You ready to do this? So here is the men's draw for the 2021 US Open and I'll tell you what, if you're a Novak Djokovic fan you are going to smile because he has a very good draw. Let's go start with the players that are not playing at the US Open this year. Okay so the players that are out of the US Open for 2021, you can see they're better now. He has pulled out, also Chorich has pulled out. Kyle Edmund has also withdrawn from the event, haven't seen him for a long, long time. Roger Federer, we know he's pulled out with the knee injury for the rest of the season. Rafa Nadal also pulled out with a foot injury for the rest of the season. Milos Rionic, he is also out of the US Open this year with Dominic Teem, the defending champion, joining him. Obviously, Teem's not playing for the rest of the year due to the wrist injury and Stan Vavrenko, former champion, also not playing this event. Here is the draw, Novak Djokovic. He gets a qualifier in the first round. The winner of that match takes on either Grixbor or Strouf in the second round. Then we have Caruso versus Nishikori. Winner of that match takes on either McDonald or the number 27 seed David Goffin in the second round. Then we've got the 21st seed Karatsev. He takes on Muneir in the first round. Winner of that match takes on either Thompson or Maga in the second round. Then we've got Brooksby, the wild card versus Ema. Winner of that match takes on a pretty fire first round matchup if I do say so myself. Fritz versus the number 14 seed Diminor, a couple of next-gen guys going at it in the first round. Could be very interesting. So you can see there that the fourth round opponents for Djokovic, if he does make it that far, which I think we all expect, could be Karatsev. I mean, you know, we've got to look out for Karatsev. He didn't do much against Djokovic at the Australian Open, but that was a long time ago now and he's, I mean, has he kind of gotten better a little bit better? So maybe Karatsev in the fourth round against Djokovic or Diminor. But I'm definitely watching out for obviously Djokovic, Diminor and Karatsev in this part of the draw. Second section of the draw, we've got the number 10 seed Hercatch. He takes on Jarissomov in the first round. Winner of that match takes on either Sepi or Fujovic in the second round. Then you've got Kudler versus Jera. Winner of that match takes on either a qualifier or the number 20 seed Senego in the second round. Then we've got the number 28 seed Finini taking on Pospasul. Circle, that one is wonderful. That is a fire first round matchup. Winner of that match takes on either Sandgren or Avashka in the second round. Then we have Matej versus Trevalier. Winner of that takes on either Shadi or the number six seed Baratini. And that is a tough first round for Baratini against the veteran Shadi. Players I'm watching out for in this one, got to watch out for Matteo Baratini. Of course, he's got a tough first round, but he has played well at the US Open in previous years. Who be Hercatch as well, got to watch out for him. Had a couple of good, had a pretty good season really on hard courts and of course made the Wimbledon semi-finals. So let's see if he can do something here in this event. And Fabio Finini, I mean you got to watch out for him. He's always an interesting player to watch out for. And who knows? He has beaten some big names at this event in the past. Next section of the draw we have Alexander Zverev. Number four seed, he takes on Sam Querri in the first round. What a terrible first round for Zverev. Very tough match against an American in America. And Querri, he knows, he loves an upset. Winner of that match takes on either Ramos Vanoles or Pui in the second round. Then we've got Nishioca versus the Wildcard Sock. Keep an eye on Jack Sock. We'll be doing that on this channel if he does get through the next rounds. Winner of that match takes on either Hanfman with a 31st seed public in the second round. Then we've got the number 17 seed Moffis taking on Correa. Winner of that match takes on either Johnson or a qualifier in the second round. Then we've got Chekinado versus Svayda, the Wildcard from America. Winner of that match takes on either the Wildcard Purcell or the 16th seed Sinner. So matchups that could be happening and potential players that you should watch out for. Of course, watch out for Stashes, Zverev. He's on a win streak. He just won Cincinnati. He won the gold medal at the Olympics. He beat Djokovic to get that medal. Watch out for him. You've also got to watch out for Yanik Sinner. He won Washington a couple of weeks ago and look, might be able to do something here as well. Maybe have a bit of a run. Has a pretty good draw, to be honest. And Jack Sock. We're going to be watching him on the channel if he does make it through, especially if he plays maybe Zverev in the third round. So keep an eye on Jack Sock. This time last year is really where we started the Sock train. That's where we started our Jack Sock fan club here on Tennis Talk. So watch out for Jack Sock. I know I will definitely be keeping an eye on him, especially in the first couple of rounds. And the last part of this draw, in the top half of the draw, we have Karina Buster, the number nine seed. He takes on a qualifier in the first round. Winner of that match takes on either quarter or a Basilash Vili in the second round. So interesting first round matchup there. Then you've got Moseti versus the wild card Nava. Winner of that match takes on either Kwon or the 22nd seed Opelka in the second round. Then you've got the number 25 seed Hashinov, versus Harris. That's a tough one to say quick. Winner of that plays either Quavos or the wild card Escobedo. Then you've got Bayano versus Paul. Winner of that match takes on either Dolbonis or the number seven seed Shapovalov. So players we're watching out for on this one would be, you've got to watch out for Shapo. I know he's in terrible form right now, but you're still going to watch out for him. He's got a pretty good draw. As you know, Dolbonis is a clay court player in that first round. So he could get through that. Also PCB, watch out for Karina Buster. Bronze medalist at the Olympics. Of course, Beat Djokovic here last year in that default match. Also going to watch out for Opelka. He's in great form at the moment. And I would say definitely got to watch out for Hashinov as well, the silver medalist at the Olympics. So a lot of players to watch out for in this part of the draw. All right, let's start at the bottom half of the draw now. We've got Rubelev, the number five seed. He takes on a qualifier in the first round. Winner of that match takes on either Martínez or Duckworth in the second round. Then we've got TFO versus a qualifier. Winner of that match takes on either Pella or the 32nd seed Crianovic in the second round. Then we've got one of the first round matches that everyone, I'm sure, will be watching. And if not, you'll be looking at the scores or checking in on it at least. Is number 18 seed Batistriuk do taking on Nick Kirios in the first round. Okay, let's keep an eye on that one. That is a fire first round matchup. Winner of that match takes on either a qualifier or Roussevore in the second round. Then we've got Lopez versus a qualifier. Winner of that match takes on either another qualifier or the number 12 seed Felix Ojaliaseem in the second round. So a lot of qualities in this part of the draw. But players to watch out for. Rubelev got to watch out for Rubelev in great form as he has been for the last couple of years. Actually played really well here last year as well. So got to keep an eye on Rubelev in this tournament. Actually beat, I think he beat City Pass and Kirios two years ago if I'm not mistaken. And then obviously you got to watch out for Kirios as well. I don't know if he's going to play. I hope he does, but you got to watch out for him anyway. If he does play, the first round matchup against RBA is going to be a nightmare. And then of course Ojaliaseem. Keep an eye on him. Had a pretty good week last week. So beat Baratini in the match last week before losing to City Pass. So keep an eye on FAA for this tournament as well. Next part of the draw we've got Garen, the number 16 seed taking on Gombus in the first round. Winner of that match takes on either a qualifier or Milman in the second round. Then we've got Lyovic versus Pair. Winner of that match takes on either the qualifier or the number 23 seed Umbair in the second round. Then we've got the number 26 seed Nori versus Elkarez. Baby Rafa in action against Cam Nori. That's a tough first round matchup against, you know, Fort Nori. Winner of that match takes on either Kitschmenovich or Rindinik in the second round. Then we've got a couple of Frenchmen going at it with Manorino taking on Herbair. Winner of that match takes on probably one of the most exciting first round matchups on paper, on paper. Andy Murray is taking on Stafano City Pass, the third seed. That would be, if it was two years ago, that would be a final of a slam. But no, Andy Murray, or maybe not two years, maybe four years ago. But Andy Murray, he's unseeded. He plays against City Pass in the first round. Obviously we're watching after City Pass. He's got a tough draw. I mean, if he has to play Herbair in the second round, it's still going to be tough. He's got a pretty tough draw. Also got to watch out for Umbair. Umbair has been really good lately and he's been pretty good this year. Also beat City Pass at the Olympics. So if they do meet in the fourth round, got to watch out for him. And also I'm watching out for Alcarez. Played very well this week in Winston-Salem. Some highlight shots. And I want to see what Baby Raph is all about. So keeping on Alcarez at the US Open as well this week. All right, nearly there guys. We've got Casper Rudd, number eight in the world and sorry, number eight in the seedings. He takes on Joe Wood from Songru in the first round. That is a nightmare for Rudd. Unfortunately for Songru, he hasn't played enough. I don't think to beat Rudd. But again, that is a nightmare first round. Winner of that match takes on either a qualifier or Tabernac in the second round. Then we've got Bagnus versus Daniel. Winner of that match takes on either Samon or the number 29 seed Davidovic Fakina in the second round. Then we've got the Battle of the Americans. We've got the number 19 seed Isna taking on Nakashima. Winner of that match takes on a qualifier in the second round because we've got two qualies going at it in the first round. Then we've got Vesely versus Anderson who's a very dangerous unceded player Anderson. Winner of that match takes on either Barencus or the number 11 seed Schwartzman in the second round. So players to watch out for Casper Rudd. Had a really good clay court season in 2021 and back-to-back Masters 1000 quarterfinals on hard courts. Keep an eye on Rudd. Tough first round in the Songru, but keep an eye on Rudd. Also Daniel Schwartzman got a keep an eye on him. Had a very good, played very well here a couple of years ago. Got a set of Rafa in 2019. So can play in New York and also got a keep an eye on Isna as well. Very dangerous player as we saw a couple of weeks ago in Canada. So keep an eye on Isna. He's a very dangerous player. Bottom part of the draw now. Rounding it out as we get number 15 seed Dimitrov. He takes on the wild card Rafis in the first round. Then you've got Popperin. Winner of that will take on either Popperin or Elbot in the second round. Then you've got Giron taking on a qualifier. Winner of that match takes on either Montero or the 24th seed Evans in the second round. Then you've got Battle of the Veterans. The number 30 seed Chillich taking on Kohlschreiber in the first round. Winner of that match takes on either a qualifier or Anduhar in the second round. Then we've got Koppfer versus another qualifier. Winner of that match takes on another first round matchup between a veteran and a current generation player. Gascay versus the number two seed Mevadev. Another fire matchup. Circle that one as one to watch. Mevadev got to watch out for him. He's in great form. Didn't play great last week against Rublev but again he won Canada. And Mevadev he loves playing in America. He's had back-to-back semifinals at this event in the last two years. Made the final here two years ago, Australian Open Final at the start of the year. He doesn't mind playing best of five sets on hard courts at the majors. Got to watch out for him. Also Marin Chillich, former champion 2014. Got to watch out for him as well. Clearly loves playing in America. And also watching out for Dan Evans. Hasn't really done much since the start of the year. But I think Dan Evans he's got a pretty good draw. He could make the fourth round here and then maybe make some waves against Mevadev. He did have match points against Stan Vavrenka a few years ago and then obviously Vavrenka won that match and won the title. So he has troubled some of the seeds in the past. Man oh man. Let's talk about a crazy draw.