Novak Djokovic is poised to commence his pursuit of a 24th Grand Slam singles championship as the US Open commences, with the Serbian superstar needing only a victory in the first round to regain the world number one ranking.

The 36-year-old player makes a highly anticipated comeback to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center after sitting out the 2022 tournament due to his vaccine refusal.

Scheduled as the second seed, Djokovic will take center stage in the night session at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, set to face France’s Alexandre Muller, currently ranked 84th in the world.

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Djokovic’s potential win ensures his return to the pinnacle of the global tennis rankings, irrespective of his performance in the subsequent rounds of the US Open.

Djokovic, following his recent win over current world No. 1 and defending US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz in the Cincinnati Open, requires only 20 points to reclaim the No. 1 ranking.

While fans hope for a high-stakes rematch between Alcaraz and Djokovic in the final, Djokovic has asserted that his focus is solely on his opening match on Monday.

History suggests that Djokovic’s opening match should be a straightforward affair; he hasn’t suffered a first-round Grand Slam defeat since the 2006 Australian Open.

The men’s draw also features American 10th seed Frances Tiafoe and ninth seed Taylor Fritz, aiming to end the host nation’s 20-year drought for a Grand Slam title.

In the women’s division, defending champion and world No. 1 Iga Swiatek takes on Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson in her opener.

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Swiatek, despite her semi-final exits in Montreal and Cincinnati, feels better prepared than in the previous year.

US teenage sensation Coco Gauff, fresh off victories in Washington and Cincinnati, takes on German qualifier Laura Siegemund, expressing newfound confidence in her performance on the court.