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Picture this: a famous Formula 1 driver, used to racing fast cars, thinking about trying tennis instead. Lance Stroll, known for driving Aston Martin cars in Formula 1 and is currently worth over $50 million, might be considering a big change – going from the racetrack to the tennis court. This unexpected idea has caught people’s attention and could shake things up in both F1 and tennis.

How might this daring endeavor reshape the trajectories of two distinct sporting domains? Could a new challenger emerge to disrupt the customary dominance of tennis titans like the howitzer Novak Djokovic and the young bazooka that is Carlos Alcaraz?

Revving up for a bold turn: F1 star’s speculated tennis venture

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Unlike most drivers who have regular contracts with their teams, Stroll has a unique arrangement. His father, Lawrence Stroll, owns the Aston Martin F1 team which means Lance operates under what’s called a “rolling contract.” This is different from the usual fixed contracts other drivers have. Despite his performance struggles compared to his teammates, Stroll can only leave the team on his own terms due to his family connection.

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The prospect of Lance Stroll transitioning from F1 to tennis raises intriguing possibilities. Having already showcased his competitive mettle in the motorsport world for seven years, Stroll could potentially transfer his drive and focus onto the tennis court. A move that could pit him against tennis titans like Djokovic and rising star Alcaraz. But alas, all of it can only be construed as a rumor until more information surfaces. As soon as these speculations started getting more and more traction, the Canadian driver himself took hold of the narrative and couldn’t help but laugh off at the absurdity.

“Well, if I’m going to go on tour, I’d better work on my backhand a little bit, because I don’t think I’m quite at that level yet,” he joked when asked about the rumors. “I mean, I like to think I’m pretty good. But I don’t know if I’m ready to go up against [Novak] Djokovic and [Carlos] Alcaraz just yet,” as reported by Motorsport.

Lance certainly will have to go through a tenacious grind to even get ready for a normal ATP tour event as he confided himself before challenging the current top seeds. However, speaking of Djokovic and Alcaraz, with the US Open beginning in a few hours, who do you think can shake the Djoker-Carlitos party?

Anticipating emerging contenders at the US Open ’23

Get ready for some exciting action at the US Open! Carlos Alcaraz is all set to shine as he starts his journey. Alcaraz will be facing Dominik Koepfer first and might meet Cameron Norrie in the next round. But the really interesting part is the chance to see Alcaraz play against Jannik Sinner again. However, this part can be shaken by the likes of players like US Open ’21 winner, Daniil Medvedev. However, Medvedev’s game hasn’t been at its best lately. But, his win at the hard court championship, the Miami Open, and his runner-up mettle at Indian Wells are noteworthy, making him a solid contender at the US Open.

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Coming back to Sinner, if the Italian manages to outmaneuver the 12th-seeded Alexander Zverev in the fourth round, we might witness an electrifying quarterfinal collision between him and Alcaraz. These two are often spoken of as part of the ‘Next Gen Big Three’, each holding three wins in their six head-to-head clashes. Their battles span Grand Slam arenas, with Sinner having the upper hand in their latest encounter at the Miami Open semis in 2023. Although Alcaraz has a slight edge on hard courts, winning three out of their four meetings, this rivalry could redefine the quarterfinals.

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ALSO READ: 21-Year-Old Rising ATP Star Holger Rune Cleverly Calls Out US Open for Its Scheduling as He Expresses Frustration Ahead of His Opening Round Match

The US Open is also expecting a good outcome from 2 young guns, Holger Rune and, Casper Ruud. Rune’s recent performance in Montreal and Ohio might not have been stellar, but the memory of his victory over Djokovic adds a formidable dimension. On the flip side, Casper Ruud, a 2022 finalist, strives to transcend recent underwhelming displays. The fourth quarter features Djokovic, who’s eager to win his fourth US Open title. He’s faced challenges at this tournament before. After his Wimbledon loss and his victory over Alcaraz at Cincinnati, Djokovic is motivated to win. While the Djoker has a favorable draw, his biggest pain points in the top 8 could possibly be Stefanos Tsitsipas and even Taylor Fritz.

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All of this is highly speculative based only on past performance, track record, and head-to-head stats. The US Open still remains an unforgiving, unpredictable ground so, quite literally, anything can happen. Who do you think will win the US Open ’23?

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