Preview: U S Open

With the Olympics over, we now get back to the Grand Slams – more specifically the US Open. It has already suffered a blow with Rafael Nadal‘s participaion being ruled out due to persistent injury. His grunts will be surely missed in Arthur Ashe stadium. Now looking at the other favourites who arre expected to rock the stadiums.

Favourites:

Novak Djokovic: The defending champion, who had a dream season last year, isn’t quite up to the mark in this. With only one title in this whole season, it is quite un-Djokovic-ish considering the standards set by him in recent times. Yet, being one of the crowd favourites, fans would expect a better performance in the final Grand Slam of the year. Not only fans, even he himself must be waiting to prove a point that his performance last year was not a flash in a pan.

Roger Federer: The Swiss maestro is in the form of his life, at least according to the last three years. He has shown he is still in the top flight by winning Wimbledon in a well fought four-setter against the crowd favourite Andy Murray. His fans were expecting him to win the Olympics too, but a spirited Murray ensured that he had his revenge by clinching gold. But he is back on track after winning his 5th Cincinatti title and 21st masters title overall, tying with Nadal for the record of most number of masters title. Yet the legend would be expected to win his 6th title there. He has defied the age barriers and is expected to be the bookies’ favourite to win the title.

Andy Murray: The best player ever in recent times to have never won a Grand Slam. But his chances are intensified with the absence of Nadal coinciding with him reaching the form of his life. He showed that he has the potential to win a Grand Slam again in Wimbeldon this year. But a determined Federer denied the glory. Yet, his hopes of winning a Grand Slam soon were raised after his breathtaking trashing of Federer in SW19, winning an olympic gold for his country. Andy must surely be driven by the confidence and his fans must be expecting that he does not remain the second best if he reaches the final this time.

Dark horses:

Juan Martin del Potro: The 2009 champion, after a long injury layback, has come up strongly and steadily this year and his performances in the Olympics and Cincinatti masters would provide him much confidence. In the Olympics, he gave Federer a run for his money with an epic 4 and half hour match, and after that he won the bronze medal against Djokovic. Still, one cannot say whether he is 100% fit or not. But still, he is expected to give a tough fight to the big three

Jo Wilfred Tsonga: The French hasn’t had an amazing year to say, but still, he is a force to recon with. On his day he is unstoppable. He is expected to give the top seeds a run for their money.

One cannot surely predict the winner of this year’s US Open. With Djokovic’s decline in form and Murray’s fine form lately, the contests are expected to be nail biting ones. Who knows? Even an unseeded player can surprise anyone. One has to wait till 27th august and follow tennis for the next two weeks to know the answer.