Is Carlos Alcaraz expected to play the full tournament?

Yes — he looks fit and will play, but his team will manage his workload and he may be protected through scheduling if matches become marathon affairs.

Can Aryna Sabalenka realistically make history at the US Open?

Yes — her power game gives her a real shot, but she must improve return consistency and calmness in decisive moments to convert that shot into history.

What should fans watch to judge both players’ chances?

Monitor Alcaraz’s movement and recovery between long matches, and Sabalenka’s break-point conversion and second-serve resilience; these metrics will predict who advances under pressure.

The Guru Declares: Alcaraz Is Rideable, Sabalenka Is Poised to Make History

Every tick of the wristwatch on Alcaraz’s practice court has been watched and the short answer is: he looks rideable, not invincible. Movement has regained bite and his hitting sessions show match intensity, but long rallies and heavy days will be the true barometer; his team’s conservative load management suggests they know the balance between risk and reward. In short, Alcaraz is fit enough to frighten opponents, but not yet free of caution.

Sabalenka’s question is a different grammar — it’s about legacy, not just fitness. Her serve and raw ball-striking remain top-tier and, when complemented by improved return positioning, they form the architecture of historic runs; the missing piece is mental punctuation in decisive games. If she controls the break points and calms the swing between aggression and overforce, the records are not fantasy but a short walk away.

This Open’s complexion is determined as much by draw and conditions as by form: heat, late-night sessions and a cluster of power players who can end a favourite’s tournament in two sets. That volatility favors the mentally cold and physically durable; expect flare-ups in early rounds and attrition in the second week. Tactical nuance — choosing when to shorten points, when to grind — will outscore raw headline power by tournament’s end.

The Guru's prediction: Alcaraz will reach the deep rounds but fall short of lifting the trophy — think a visceral semi-final defeat rather than an early exit — because fitness management will cap his ceiling. Sabalenka, if she marries her serve with steadier returns under pressure, will make history here; she is my pick to seize the title. My recommendation: watch Sabalenka’s break-point conversion and Alcaraz’s minutes—back the Belarusian for glory, respect the Spaniard’s menace, but don’t confuse caution for decline.