Defending champion Novak Djokovic had a big breakthrough when the US Open draw was announced on Thursday.

Since world number one Jannik Sinner and world number three Carlos Alcaraz are in the top half of the field, the 24-time Grand Slam champion will only have to face one of the two players in the final.

Sinner, the Australian Open winner, and Alcaraz, who has won the French Open and Wimbledon, have been drawn in the top half of the semifinals, while Djokovic, the Olympic gold medalist, will face No. 4 Alexander Zverev in the bottom half of the draw.

It is the third major in a row in which Sinner and Alcaraz share the same half of the draw.

“The two favorites are Sinner and Alcaraz and they are in the top half of the field,” ESPN’s Patrick McEnroe said live.

“Overall, I would say it’s very good news for Djokovic because now he just needs to beat one of these guys to win the tournament.”

Mary Joe Fernandez added: “It’s definitely a relief for him not to have to play Alcaraz and Sinner back to back. When it goes to five sets, you never know. I think Novak will be happy with the result of the draw.”

Daniil Medvedev, seeded number 5, is also in the top half of the field and could face Sinner in the quarterfinals.

Djokovic, who is seeking his record 25th major title, begins his tournament against a qualifier and could be tested in the third round by Russian world number 23 Alexei Popyrin.

In the fourth round, the Serb could then face one of two Americans, Ben Shelton or Frances Tiafoe. Shelton defeated Tiafoe in the quarterfinals a year ago in four sets before losing to Djokovic in straight sets in the semifinals.

Shelton will face 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem, currently ranked 209th in the world, in his opening match.

“I don’t think Thiem will give Shelton that much trouble,” said Patrick McEnroe. “He hasn’t played well all year. But I would like to see a rematch between Shelton and Tiafoe in the third round to play Djokovic in the fourth round.”

If Djokovic wins his 25th major tournament at Arthur Ashe Stadium next month, he could retire from the sport, according to Chrissie Evert.

“I think if he wins the 25th major, I would think he would retire from the match,” Evert, who won 18 major singles titles in her career, said Tuesday in an ESPN conference call before the start of the Open on Monday. “He would break the tie with Margaret Court.”

Evert added: “I would allow him to retire after this. OK, everyone in the world has permission to retire. It would be epic if he could do that. But he’s a very determined person, more than anyone I’ve ever seen.”

In the American men’s competition, five are in the top 20 of the ATP rankings, but it seems that number 12 Taylor Fritz has the most favorable draw. He is in Zverev’s quarter, which also includes number 5 Holger Rune.

Fritz opens against Argentinian Camilo Ugo Carabelli and could face former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini in the second round and world number eight Casper Rudd in the fourth round.

“I think he has the best starting lineup (among the Americans) to go far,” Fernandez said.