The status of both Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner leading into the US Open has made the Grand Slam one of the hardest to call in a long time.

Alcaraz is in a race against time to return at the US Open for the first time since suffering a wrist injury at the Barcelona Open in April.

Sinner, meanwhile, is dealing with a knee injury, which has forced him out of both the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open, following his second Wimbledon win.

Should both men play, they will surely still be the favourites to win the tournament, but there will still be major question marks surrounding the best two players on the ATP Tour.

As a result, Patrick Mouratoglou has claimed the US Open this year could throw up a first-time Grand Slam winner and he’s named six players he thinks it could be.

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Speaking on Instagram, the French coach said: “This US Open is probably one of the most interesting grand slam on the men’s side for I don’t know how long. The situation is unique. The absence of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner makes these Grand Slams incredibly exciting.

“We have had so much dominance for so long and suddenly there is kind of an emptiness, everything’s possible. There are a lot of young guys coming up: you have Arthur Fils, Jakub Mensik, Ben Shelton, Rafael Jodar, Joao Fonseca, Learner Tien.

“Those guys will have a chance if Alcaraz and Sinner are not at the level. Those guys are potentially Grand Slam winners and then you have also Novak Djokovic. Besides Alcaraz and Sinner in Grand Slams, he has been almost unbeatable the last year.

“There is so much uncertainty, so many possibilities for a lot of players and that makes these Grand Slam quite unique we haven’t had that for so long.”

Those six players have been impressive on the ATP Tour this season, although they have no come anywhere close to claiming a major trophy.

Shelton, who recently won the Canadian Open, reached the quarter finals of the Australian Open, but suffered early exits at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

Fils missed the Australian Open and Roland Garros and only reached the second round of Wimbledon, while Mensik’s best effort was a semi final appearance at Roland Garros.

Jodar reached the quarter finals of Roland Garros this year, while Tien reached the quarter finals of the Australian Open.

Fonseca, meanwhile, reached the last eight of Roland Garros, but he most recently withdrew from the Cincinnati Open with an injury.

If any one of those six won the US Open this year it would be a major surprise, but Sinner and Alcaraz have certainly left the door wide open.