The US Open is played in an environment that feels chaotic for many reasons and is a tournament with a history of dealing an unwanted to surprise to even the very best players in the world. If history is a guide, expect some mayhem in coming days in Flushing Meadows.

The hard court facility is located in the borough of Queens and it truly is a unique grand slam. Planes from the nearby JFK and LaGuardia airports roar overhead, the 7-line and commuter trains heading out to Long Island rattle past, and there are all manner of scents that waft around the precinct from food stands inside the grounds and also from the BBQs occurring in Corona Park.

It is not the only scent players will smell this week either — Court 17 earned a reputation as the “dope court” last year given the propensity for some locals to light up special cigarettes in the adjoining park — while the heat and humidity can rattle even the calmest player.

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A SEASON-DEFINING MAJOR

By virtue of the US Open’s status as the last Grand Slam tournament each year, it holds the unofficial mantle as the major to settle who the season’s best player at the premium level is.

This year is no different in either the men’s or the women’s ranks, with Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Barbora Krejcikova winning the opening three majors this year, while Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have split the proceeds to date in the men’s events.

Both Swiatek and Sinner will retain their status as the world’s No.1 players irrespective of what unfolds over the next fortnight in Queens given the buffer they hold in ranking points.

But they cannot lay claim to being the best-performed player at Grand Slam level in 2024 without succeeding in New York.

Swiatek’s dominance on clay is indisputable and, as a former champion in New York, she is aware of the challenges associated with thriving throughout a fortnight in arduous conditions.

As the reigning WTA Tour Finals and Indian Wells champion, the Polish champion is clearly adept at playing on hard courts, but she is far from impregnable on the surface when compared to her remarkable deeds on clay.

This was evidenced just over a week ago when she was whipped by Sabalenka in a semi-final in Cincinnatti. Swiatek failed in her defence of the US Open last year and said she feels less of a burden in 2024.

“Last year I felt I had many things to defend, like the world No.1 position, all my points, and also the title itself,” she said.

“I felt like I had a lot of baggage on my shoulders. This year it’s a little bit different. This year I’m just trying to focus on what should I do, tennis-wise, to play the best game possible.

“My expectations are not so high compared to last year. So I’m going to try to focus on getting everything step-by-step and not put too much baggage on my shoulders.”

Sabalenka, who was dominant in her defence of the Australian Open in January, has overcome the injury issues that hindered her at Wimbledon and performed superbly in Cincinnati.

A finalist last year, 13 of the 15 titles the former world No.1 has won have come on hard courts, with the ferocity with which she strikes the ball on the surface formidable.

Quizzed as to whether she was the best hard court player in the world, she responded: “What a question. I don’t know. You better ask other players.”

“I mean, I think I definitely do really well on the hard court,” she said.

“I was really happy with the level I played (in Cincinnati). It’s not like it’s a weight off my shoulders. It just a little, like, happy moment before going to the US Open, which is also very important to have this good feelings before the big tournaments.”

Reigning Wimbledon champion Krejcikova, who played with great distinction at the All England Club, is adept on all surfaces and has won five of her eight titles on hard courts.

The 2021 Roland Garros champion thrust aside fears she would be a one-slam wonder with her win at Wimbledon and, as a past quarterfinalist in New York, is more than capable of challenging despite not playing a lead-in event on hard court.

“I feel good. I felt like I just needed to rest a little bit after Wimbledon, after the Olympics,” she said.

“It was a very tough period with a lot of matches, a lot of changes of surfaces, a lot of obligations that came with the Wimbledon title. So I took some days off, and then I started practicing.”

Coco Gauff was the star of the American summer a year ago but will begin her defence hoping to rebound from a dip in form after early exits in Toronto and Cincinnati. Aside from Djokovic, Gauff is probably the best known player in New York by virtue of her famous win last year as she seeks to defend a major title for the first time in her career.

“Obviously coming in as defending champion is a little bit of pressure, but also more of a privilege, because as my new motto is: ‘If you defend, that means you won something before.’ I’m excited to be back here and hopefully have a good two weeks,” she said.

Her compatriot Jess Pegula has also been in dashing form through the summer and, although she is yet to deliver deep in grand slams, is clearly capable of testing the best on hard courts.

CAN ALCARAZ MAKE IT A HAT-TRICK?

Carlos Alcaraz, who completed the ‘Channel Slam’ with a resounding defence of his Wimbledon title, Australian Open winner Jannik Sinner and Olympic gold medallist Novak Djokovic again head the field in the men’s event.

But upsets can unfold at an event often played in the sultry conditions given the heat and humidity. Just three years ago Djokovic was denied a Calendar Grand Slam by Daniil Medvedev in the final.

For the first time in seven years — and only the second time since 2010 — defending champion Djokovic has arrived at Flushing Meadows without a Grand Slam title to his name in a season.

Yet the 37-year-old played brilliantly in Paris to secure the Olympic gold medal he had long-desired and history beckons once again in New York as he seeks to win a 25th major singles title that would take him beyond Margaret Court.

“I was saying that carrying the flag, being a flag bearer for my country (at the) in 2012 in London at the Olympic Games was the best feeling I had overall in my professional career,” he said.

“(It) surpassed every slam that I won until I won the gold medal. I think the moment of when I achieved it, how I achieved it, after years of trying, the journey, that was the way it was, I think makes it even more unique.”

Alcaraz, who plays Australian qualifier Li Tu in the first round, played superbly at Roland Garros and Wimbledon to take his tally to four major titles and is a proven performer in New York, having thrilled fans with a series of late night epics on the way to the 2022 crown.

But after falling to Djokovic in a superb final at the Olympics, he was uncharacteristically frazzled in Cincinnati and issued an apology for his behaviour. He cut short a practice session on the weekend due as a precaution after feeling some pain in his ankle.

“Obviously I would have loved to have more matches on my belt on hard court before the US Open,” he said.

“But, I mean, it doesn’t affect me at all. If I look back a little bit, for example, (entering) the Roland Garros, I hadn’t too much matches on clay, and it was a pretty good result. And then in Wimbledon, (it was the) same thing, you know.”

Sinner, who clinched the Cincinnati Masters, enters the tournament under the spotlight after it was revealed he inadvertently registered two positive tests to a steroid in March which triggered an investigation.

His coach Darren Cahill said Sinner was exhausted by the experience but he played with verve in Cincinnati when aware he was not at any fault in the saga.

Despite a US Open moderator attempting to cut short questions regarding the saga, Sinner waived the bid to stifle free speech and answered at length in his pre-US Open press conference.

“Of course it’s not ideal before a Grand Slam. But, you know, in my mind, I know that I haven’t done anything wrong,” he said.

“I had to play already months with this in my head, but … just remembering myself that I haven’t done really anything wrong. I always respect that these rules, and I always will respect these rules of anti-doping. (It is) obviously a relief for myself having this result.”

There are stresses on the stars. Whether they prove enough to derail their bids for glory in the city that never sleeps will be resolved over the next fortnight.

WHAT DO SINNER’S CHIEF RIVALS SAY?

Carlos Alcaraz has no doubt it has been a testing few months for Sinner, but he is also clear about one thing – he believes in clean sport.