The Cincinnati Open (Western & Southern Open) is a usual stop en route to the US Open and acts as the second in a double header with the Canadian Open. With the draw now out, we can preview the main talking points.

Taking place between August 14-20, 2023 in Mason, Ohio, Borna Coric is the defending champion, but it is Carlos Alcaraz who will be top seed.

A player with huge pressure on his shoulders, Carlos Alcaraz went through a crisis of sorts during Toronto playing well up until the latter stages when his game started to collapse.

Undone by Tommy Paul for the second year in a row though, this should not act as a massive cause for concern as he aims to just move on and head towards the US Open title defence.

He could face Paul again though early in Cincinnati with the American seemingly finding the keys to beat him. First up for 'Carlitos' is John Isner in what could be his final Western & Southern Open with retirement hints flowing. A qualifier awaits the former top American. But Paul sits in the quarter below with Miomir Kecmanovic first and Ugo Humbert or a qualifier awaiting the winner. After that in the third round, it could be Alcaraz.

Also in that same quarter is Casper Ruud who was dumped out by the brilliance of Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in Canada, he faces Lloyd Harris or a qualifier with Frances Tiafoe and a tie between Brandon Nakashima and Stan Wawrinka also lurking.

Out on the courts of Montenegro, Novak Djokovic has been putting out the work and as ever, he has not played many warm-ups if at all for a Grand Slam.

It will be a sombre moment for the 23-time Grand Slam champion who steps back onto American soil for the first time in two years. Denied entry due to his vaccination and lack thereof, those mandates have been lifted.

He tried last year to gain exemptions but they weren't forthcoming. It also acts as the first time he will play since that Wimbledon final which was one of the best matches of the year but also saw Djokovic having more questions than answers after giving up his imperious streak on grass to Alcaraz.

As second seed though, he has a rough draw. He could face the giant killing Spaniard himself, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina who as of time of writing could yet be a Masters 1000 champion by the time he plays Djokovic.

He faces Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the opening round. Another player on the rise and certainly not a soft touch. But even if he gets through that, he sits in a stacked quarter featuring Cameron Norrie - Gael Monfils, Alex de Minaur - J.J Wolf and above them Taylor Fritz, Jannik Sinner among others.

If he is to win the pre US Open warm-up, he will do it the hard way.

Others to keep an eye on include fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas. He could face either Ben Shelton or Christopher Eubanks. Two ties he won't want, but after winning Los Cabos, there is form back in his life as well as love.

Other top clashes include Karen Khachanov v Andy Murray, Holger Rune could open against Mackenzie McDonald or Yannick Hanfmann, two tricky operators in the form of their lives.

Alexander Zverev faces Grigor Dimitrov, while Daniil Medvedev could open up against DC champion Dan Evans or Lorenzo Musetti. Overall a stacked draw from top to bottom.