Scouting Report: 10 Things To Watch At The US Open
The time has come for the final Grand Slam championship of the year, as the ATP World Tour's best descend on Flushing Meadows for the US Open. All seven players who have lifted the trophy since 2004 are in the field. World No. 1 Rafael Nadal is the defending champion, while five-time winner Roger Federer and red-hot Western & Southern Open titlist Novak Djokovic lead the field of challengers trying to keep the Spaniard from becoming the first repeat champion in New York in a decade.
1) Big Four Vs. The World: Past US Open champions Nadal, Federer, Djokovic and Andy Murray will compete at the same tournament for the first time since 2017 Wimbledon. Nadal, Federer, Djokovic or Murray has been No. 1 in the ATP Rankings for 762 consecutive weeks (2 February 2004 through 9 September 2018). Though the Big Four own 49 of the past 54 Grand Slam titles, Juan Martin del Potro, Marin Cilic and Stan Wawrinka have also won the US Open. Djokovic, Murray and Wawrinka return to New York after missing the 2017 US Open due to injuries.
2) All He Does Is Win: No. 1 seed Rafael Nadal has lost three matches in 2018 -- the same number he lost in 2013 entering the US Open. Nadal is 40-3 this season and was 53-3 at the start of the 2013 US Open, where he won his 13th Grand Slam title. The Spaniard has won six Grand Slam titles as the top seed, including the US Open in 2010 and 2017.
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3) Grapple In The Apple: Legendary boxing promoter Don King billed it the ‘Grapple in the Apple’ in 2008, but Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have still never played at the US Open. On six occasions, they were only one match away. If they hope to meet in Flushing Meadows for the first time this year, it would be for the championship.
4) Sixth Sense: No. 6 seed Novak Djokovic went 6-6 in his first six tournaments of 2018. He is 27-4 in six events since, gaining plenty of momentum heading into the US Open with his triumphs at Wimbledon and the Western & Southern Open, where he completed his Career Golden Masters. The last time the two-time champion failed to reach at least the semi-finals in New York was 2006.
5) Roger’s Records: Roger Federer is the all-time leader with 20 Grand Slam men’s singles titles and 310 weeks at No. 1 in the ATP Rankings. The Swiss could extend those records and set several new ones during the 2018 US Open. Federer seeks his sixth US Open title, which would break a three-way tie for most in the Open Era. If he wins the title and Nadal does not advance to the semi-finals, Federer will also return to the top of the rankings.
6) Former Champions: Juan Martin del Potro, who won the US Open in 2009, is playing his 22nd Grand Slam since that victory, and Marin Cilic, who triumphed here four years ago, is playing his 15th Slam since winning the title.. Either could set an Open Era record for most attempts before winning a second major crown. Stan Wawrinka, who is continuing his comeback from two left knee surgeries last year, clinched the title here two years ago. Murray won his first major six years ago at the US Open.
7) Sascha Seeks Semi: Alexander Zverev has won three ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles and nine tour-level trophies overall, but he is pursuing his first Grand Slam semi-final. Zverev earned three wins from two-sets-to-one down to reach his maiden Grand Slam quarter-final at 2018 Roland Garros. The German leads the ATP World Tour with 43 match wins so far this year.
8) Stefanos Shining: It took Stefanos Tsitsipas nine tries to earn his first ATP World Tour win last October. Less than a year later, the #NextGenATP Greek became the youngest player to defeat four Top 10 opponents at a single event since the ATP World Tour was established in 1990. Tsitsipas beat Dominic Thiem, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Kevin Anderson to reach his maiden Masters 1000 final, where he fell just short against Nadal.
9) Mastering The Open: Nadal and Djokovic won Masters 1000 titles in Toronto and Cincinnati, respectively. The Canada champion has won the US Open title twice in the past 10 years (Nadal in 2013, Djokovic in 2011). The Cincinnati champion has been victorious at the US Open once in the past 10 years (Nadal in 2013). Nadal also attempts to become the first player to repeat as US Open champion since Federer won five straight titles from 2004-08.
10) Mike’s Pursuit: Mike Bryan, the No. 1 player in the ATP Doubles Rankings, is once again competing with Jack Sock as his brother, Bob Bryan, recovers from hip surgery. Bryan/Sock triumphed at Wimbledon to give Bryan his 17th Grand Slam men’s doubles title. If the pair lifts the trophy in Flushing Meadows, Bryan will break a tie with John Newcombe (17) to become the all-time leader in men’s doubles Grand Slam titles. Bryan/Bryan hold the record for most US Open victories with five.