Five men contenders to watch at US Open

Five men to watch at this year’s U.S. Open at Flushing Meadows:

Carlos Alcaraz

Alcaraz and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner have created a new hegemony atop the sport, splitting the past seven Slams.

But the Spaniard’s white-hot form — 54-6 record this year with titles at the French Open and last week’s Cincinnati Open — along with Sinner’s recent illness make Alcaraz the Flushing favorite.

Jannik Sinner

The Italian is the top-ranked player in the world and is an ice-cold competitor riding a 21-match win streak at hard-court majors.

But a virus forced him to retire from last week’s Cincinnati Open final and pull out of mixed doubles here in Flushing.

He said he has “recovered mostly, not 100 percent yet.”

Novak Djokovic

The Joker has a legitimate claim as the sport’s GOAT.

He was the oldest male winner in the singles division in 2023 at 36 years old.

But he’s gone seven Grand Slams without a title — a drought by his historic standards — and will be looking to reclaim his place at the top.

Ben Shelton

The hard-serving Shelton, 22, has taken his game to another level.

He won the best title of his career at the National Bank Open and had career-best showings at three of the Grand Slams, making the quarterfinals at Wimbledon and semis in Australia.

Can the 2023 U.S. Open semifinalist reach the final in Flushing?

Taylor Fritz

The World No. 4 is part of the American men’s resurgence.

Fritz, 27, won a five-set classic over countryman Francis Tiafoe in last year’s U.S. Open semifinals to reach his first-ever Grand Slam final before falling to Sinner.

Now — after reaching the semis at Wimbledon, Miami and Toronto — he’s looking to close the deal.