US Open: Who’s playing? Who’s a doubt? Who’s out? Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Emma Raducanu, Nick Kyrgios

The 2023 US Open will see the biggest stars in tennis descend on New York for the final Grand Slam of the season.

Carlos Alcaraz will be the defending men’s champion while Iga Swiatek will be looking to win the women’s title for a second successive year.

Among the challengers for Alcaraz to fend off will be Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Jannik Sinner and last year’s runner-up Casper Ruud. Swiatek could face competition from Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula, Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff.

But three former champions, Rafael Nadal, Marin Cilic, and Emma Raducanu, won’t be competing for another title at the US Open, which starts on August 28.

We run through which big names are going to play the US Open, and which are set to miss out.

Carlos Alcaraz announced himself on the big stage at last year’s US Open, winning three successive five-set matches to reach the final, where he beat Casper Ruud to lift his first Grand Slam title and become world No. 1.

His electrifying play will make the Wimbledon champion the star attraction as he bids to win his third major.

Novak Djokovic will return to New York for the first time since losing in the 2021 US Open final to Daniil Medvedev.

Two years ago Djokovic was aiming to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to complete the Calendar Slam but was beaten in straight sets and left in tears by the support he received from the crowd.

Djokovic is able to play the US Open again after not being able to travel to North America for the last 18 months as he is unvaccinated against Covid-19. US entry laws have now changed so travellers do not need to be vaccinated.

Iga Swiatek will be back to defend her title as she looks for another two-Slam season.

The world No. 1 has already won the French Open in 2023 and will likely start as the favourite in New York, where she beat Ons Jabeur in last year’s final.

Aryna Sabalenka has won one hard-court Grand Slam this year at the Australian Open, can she make it two?

She’s made the semis on her last two US Open appearances, losing last year to Swiatek in three sets. With her power-hitting game she is one of the leading contenders for the title.

Williams lost in the first round of Wimbledon in her only Grand Slam appearance of 2023 so far and exited at the same stage in last year’s US Open.

Caroline Wozniacki will be playing her first Grand Slam since the 2020 Australian Open.

The former world No. 1 has returned to tennis this summer after giving birth to two children.

It appears to be a move to ensure Murray will be fit for the US Open, where he will likely just miss out on a seeded spot as he is ranked at No. 36 in the world.

It’s been tough going for Bianca Andreescu over the last couple of years.

The 2019 US Open champion has struggled with injuries and has pulled out of Cincinnati due to a stress fracture in her back.

She looks a doubt to return to New York this summer.

Former US Open runner-up Kei Nishikori showed encouraging signs on his comeback to the ATP Tour in July as he made the quarter-finals in Atlanta.

However, he hasn’t played since due to a knee issue and his hopes of playing the US Open for the first time since 2021 look in doubt.

He pulled out of playing the Stanford Challenger as his knee was “not 100% healed yet”.

Milos Raonic has made a successful return to the tour this season after almost two years out.

In his only hard-court event this summer he made the last 16 on home soil in Toronto, but then pulled out of the Cincinnati Open to raise doubts about his participation at the US Open.

Elina Svitolina returned to the tour in April after giving birth and made the French Open quarter-finals and Wimbledon semi-finals.

She will be hoping for another run at the US Open, although she pulled out of the Cincinnati Open due to a foot injury.

She said: “Unfortunately I have been experiencing some foot pain since Wimbledon and I was advised to have a scan after Montreal which has shown some issues that need addressing and resting, so I am unable to play in Cincinnati this year.

“I will do my best to rest and recover in time for the US Open now.”

Rafael Nadal will not be in action in New York as he continues to recover from surgery.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion has not played since losing in the second round of the Australian Open in January.

Emma Raducanu burst onto the scene when she won the 2021 US Open as a qualifier without dropping a set.

She will not be back this summer as she continues to recover from wrist and ankle surgery.

Kyrgios has also pulled out of the Laver Cup in late September, where he was set to play for John McEnroe’s Team World.

Denis Shapovalov is out of the US Open due to a knee injury.

The world No. 22 hasn’t played since Wimbledon, and wrote on Twitter: “Despite doing everything possible to be 100% healthy in time for the US Open, my knee needs more time and I sadly have to withdraw.

“That Grand Slam energy, especially in NYC, is unlike anything else and I’m really going to miss playing in front of the amazing fans there this year!”

Marin Cilic will not be returning to the site of his Grand Slam victory in 2014.

The 34-year-old has been battling a knee injury throughout 2023 and has only contested two matches.

Pablo Carreno Busta has had his best Grand Slam results at the US Open, twice making the semis, including in 2020 when he was on the other side of the net as Djokovic was defaulted for hitting the ball towards a line judge.

But the Spaniard has played just four matches this season due to injury and has dropped out of the top 100 in the rankings.

He hasn’t played since February and won’t be back at the US Open this summer.