The U.S. Open will commence Monday and it’s the most open men’s field in the recent memory. It’s going to be an exciting event coming off the heels of a tightly-contested Olympics. Here we look at the four compelling storylines that might rule the fortnight.
The Return of Juan Martin del Potro
Wrist injuries have derailed him but he is back, and all eyes will be on Juan Martin del Potro, the hugely popular tennis star. Del Potro’s return has to be the most soul-stirring tennis tale of the year alongside Monica Puig’s dramatic Gold medal victory for Puerto Rico.
The fan-friendly del Potro returns to the arena where he announced himself by stunning Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, then the two best players of the world, in succession to win the 2009 U.S. Open championship. The sound of del Potro’s missile forehand still reverberates in fans’ ears. His reaction after the 2009 victory — emotional shock and the loss of consciousness for a few seconds — will be forever etched in my memory.
Del Potro’s heroics at the Rio Olympics didn’t earn him any ranking points and hence, his unseeded status can be dangerous for any of the 32 seeded players in the first round. His backhand is still in the developing stage but he is serving monstrously and pounding his forehand.
Only Goran Ivanisevic has won the Grand Slam as a wild card (Wimbledon 2001). The way Del Potro is playing, he might join him.
An Intense Battle For The No. 1 Spot
The WTA World No.1 ranking is on the line at the U.S. Open. Can Angelique Kerber usurp Serena Williams or will the American continue to be the boss?
For the last 184 weeks, Serena has been sitting pretty at the top of the tree. Through the course of two weeks at the U.S. Open, Williams will equal Steffi Graf’s record of 186 consecutive weeks at No. 1. To break the record, Williams will have to progress at least to the semifinals and perhaps advance to the finals. If Williams wins the whole thing, she will be guaranteed the number one ranking regardless of any other results.
Nobody dared to unsettle the American until Kerber, who came agonizingly close (one win away). The German may have lost to Karolina Pliskova in Cincinnati, but she’ll get another shot at becoming only the 22nd player to hold the World No. 1 ranking. Last year, Kerber was shown the door early and hence, she is defending a paltry 130 points at the Big Apple. The German enjoys a 460-point lead from the start of the tournament and even an early exit won’t halt her charge toward the No. 1 ranking.
Novak Djokovic’s Reign Is Under Threat
For the first time in a very long time, there is more than a slight concern over Novak Djokovic’s form and also his physical health. Every single time he is doubted, he answers them by winning the titles. However, this looks different. This might just be the beginning of the end of his invincibility or… maybe not.
Were those two early losses at Wimbledon and Rio an anomaly or is there really a hole in his game? It would be fascinating to see how Djokovic responds to a mini-setback at Flushing Meadows. On the year, he’s 31-2 on the hard courts compared to 16-2 on the clay courts. We’ll see if he can defend his crown at the U.S. Open.
Muzz Puzzle Solved?
Andy Murray is having a stellar season. The Scot recorded an impressive 22-match winning streak and lost just once in three months. Although he has never made a trip to the U.S. Open semifinals since his epic victory in 2012, there is a lot of buzz surrounding Murray. While some pundits have already penned him as a champion in New York, it is foolish to ignore his record against Djokovic. He is yet to beat Djokovic in a Grand Slam event since his emotional Wimbledon triumph in 2013. Can he finally overturn his dubious record? That is what everyone is asking.
On the season, Murray is 18-4 on the hard courts, which is pretty good but the grass is still his best. He is 12-0 on the grass this season and he’s 18-3 on clay.
