It’s that time of year again, the US Open is upon us. This year’s final, glorious, major tournament of the tennis season will surely dazzle and awe us once again in New York featuring spectacular tennis, new stars emerging, old stars fading into the sunset, and there will be a touch of sadness as the beloved, historic “Grandstand” arena adjacent to Louis Armstrong Stadium will host it’s final matches this summer – it will be renovated next year into a new modernized court.
Just weeks away from Day One in Flushing Meadows, let’s take a look at how this year’s US Open could shape…
Novak Djokovic is certainly the heavy favorite to win the US Open with odds on him to win currently at 1/1 according to mytopsportsbooks.com . The Serbian superstar has won two majors this year – Wimbledon and Australia, and he barely lost in the finals of the other – Roland Garros. He’s won the last five Masters Series he’s competed it – Paris last year, Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Rome. The dominant world No. 1 is in perfect efficient form and is showing no signs of vulnerability.
The 2013 US Open champion Rafael Nadal has struggled with his form, his results and a loss of speed and confidence. The 29-year old has won in New York twice but this year he’s not been a factor at any major, including the French Open where he lost to Djokovic in the quarterfinals. Nadal’s ranking has dropped outside the top five. Even the retired American star Andy Roddick believes Nadal will not win another major title
Hotshot Nick Kyrgios, age 20 and ranked #41, is an interesting challenger to follow. The flashy and flamboyant Australian already has posted career wins over Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, and he’s linked up with former ATP world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt as his new coach and mentor. Hewitt, the 2001 US Open champion will also be contesting his final US Open.
Stanislas Wawrinka, the sensational winner of the French Open this year, must also be considered a contender though he has not yet found his groove in New York, his best showing was two years ago – a thrilling five set loss to Djokovic in the semis. Still, “Stanimal” is a lethal player when his game is on and no player feels comfortable being on court when the Swiss star is hitting and moving at full speed and power.
Andy Murray, ranked No. 3 and the winner at US Open three years ago, has been inconsistent this year. With new coach Jonas Bjorkman, Murray lost early in Washington to journeyman Teymuraz Gabashvili but the veteran Murray has periodically suffered such surprise losses throughout his career and will surely peak his game for another deep run in New York.
Roger Federer, defeated by eventual surprise champion Marin Cilic in the semifinals last year, has not won at the US Open since 2008 when he defeated Andy Murray in three sets. Federer, 34, is still a major factor, evidenced by his excellent Wimbledon final versus arch rival Djokovic, a performance lauded by Johan Kriek as one of the best matches he’s ever seen Federer play at Wimbledon. This year, Federer has again thrived and achieved an excellent, consistent year to date, solidly entrenched at No. 2 in the ATP rankings.
Cilic, similar to last summer, hasn’t shown any spectacular results leading into New York, which may bode well for his chances. But this year all eyes will be watching Cilic closely, as the defending champion, who sailed all the way to his first and only major final with wins against Gilles Simon, Tomas Berdych, Federer and finally Nishikori. Cilic’s miracle run one year ago was not foreseen by any tennis pundits and it opens the door for another possible miracle run this year in Flushing Meadows by an quiet outsider driven to shock the world.
Potential “sleeper” players to keep an eye on are last year’s finalist Kei Nishikori, who avenged and defeated Cilic in Washington earlier this month. The consistent Japanese 25 year old is another year, stronger, wiser and more experienced and could be ready to make history.
Canadian Milos Raonic, 24, has lodged in the ATP top ten for a couple of years now but not yet shown he can be a force in the grand slam best of five format. “The Missile” suffered a bad loss to 36 year old Ivo Karlovic in the first round of Montreal, 67 67.
American star Jack Sock, 22, with his huge forehand, big serve, improving fitness and mobility, has shown flashes of brilliance and greatness, winning Wimbledon doubles last year, Houston this year, and a quality comeback win over Richard Gasquet in Washington, and could be on he cusp of accomplishing something monumental in singles. Already into the top 50, Sock looks bound to reach the top ten at some point in the near future.
John Isner and Ivo Karlovic, the ace machine twin towers are always dangerous and with the right draw could factor into the second week.
Other players to keep an eye on are Austrian Dominic Thiem, American Steve Johnson, Gael Monfils, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, young Croat Borna Coric and young Russian Alexander Zverev, who John McEnroe stated that he expects to win major titles.
On the women’s side, it looks like Serena Williams is poised to win her first Grand Slam in New York, after dominating in Australia, Paris and Wimbledon. Winning a major is never easy, but the road appears set for a Serena victory parade. Two of Serena’s top challengers are struggling with issues – Petra Kvitova has been diagnosed with mononucleosis and Eugenie Bouchard is in the midst of a horrific slump, losing thirteen of fifteen matches. If Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys, Lucie Safarova, Maria Sharapova, Simona Halep, Caroline Wozniacki, Sabine Lisicki or Angelique Kerber were to upset Serena it would be a shocker.
But as we know, anything can happen in tennis. Just as Marin Cilic proved last year.
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Scoop Malinowski · August 12, 2015 at 2:50 pm
Djokovic and Serena are both looking like very very smart bets. Can only really see Wawrinka beating Djokovic but considering his subpar results in New York it seems unlikely. Like JG says, Serena’s star power is going to explode if she clinches her long elusive grand slam in NYC.
Hartt · August 13, 2015 at 10:07 am
Although it’s hard to imagine anyone winning over Serena, what about Azarenka as a possible challenger? She looks like she is getting back to form and is one of the few WTA players who can be a threat.
Scoop Malinowski · August 13, 2015 at 10:29 am
Hartt, she could be the threat but I think she’s lost too many times in a row to Serena, mental edge heavily on Serena’s side. Just don’t know if Vika is up for such an ultimate challenge of taking down the Grand Slam obsessed Serena.