2019 US Open: The contenders, dark horses and dangerous floaters

The dark horses

# 1: Daniil Medvedev

Medvedev landed his biggest career title at the 2019 Cincinnati Masters

With 16 wins in his last 18 matches, season leading 44 wins overall and 31 wins on hard court, the young Russian, Danil Medvedev, is the most in-form player at the 2019 US Open.

At a career-high world no. 5 since his maiden Masters title in Cincinnati, Medvedev opens his 3rd campaign at the US Open against Prajnesh Gunneswaran of India before facing a qualifier or Bolivian Hugo Dellien in the next round.

Taylor Fritz is the first seeded opponent in Medvedev's quarter of the draw. If the Russian gets to his first fourth-round at the US Open, Fabio Fognini or Nikoloz Basilashvili are probable opponents on the way to a blockbuster quarterfinal with Djokovic whom he has beaten twice in as many meetings this year.

5th-seed Wawrinka is the highest seed Medvedev has overcome at a Grand Slam (2017 Wimbledon first round).

The prize for beating the world no. 1 would land Medvedev in the last four of a Grand Slam for the first time where Roger Federer, who has beaten the Russian in all three of their meetings, could be waiting.

# 2: Dominic Thiem

Dominic Thiem won his first Masters 1000 title at 2019 Indian Wells.

Two-time Grand Slam finalist Dominic Thiem (2018-19 French Open) landed the biggest title of his career on the hard courts of the Indian Wells Masters. The Austrian arrives at the last Grand Slam of the year with a 31-12 match win record which includes titles in Indian Wells, Barcelona, and Kitzbuehel.

In his sixth appearance at Flushing Meadows, Thiem would look to get past the quarterfinals and record his best performance at a hard court Grand Slam.

Perched in the bottom half of the draw with Nadal, the second seed opens his campaign in New York against Italian Thomas Fabbiano before facing a qualifier or Alexander Bublik in the second round.

Kyle Edmund is the highest seed in Thiem's quarter of the draw. Frenchman Gael Monfils and young Canadian Felix Auger Alliassime are probable fourth-round opponents.

The Austrian could face Sascha Zverev, Nick Kyrgios or Stefanos Tsitsipas in his second US Open quarterfinal before a rematch with Nadal in the semis. Thiem came within two points of a victory against the Spaniard in the 2018 US Open quarterfinals before succumbing in a gladiatorial 4 hr-49 min battle.

If Thiem gets past the Spaniard, it would be his first Grand Slam final outside the French Open, where Djokovic and Federer could be probable opponents.

# 3: Stefanos Tsitsipas

In his first major semifinal, Tsitsipas lost to Nadal in the 2019 Australian Open semifinals

Stefanos Tsitsipas produced his best Grand Slam performance at the Australian Open this year where he upset six-time champion Roger Federer en-route to a maiden Grand Slam semifinal where he lost to Rafael Nadal.

The Greek won his second career title in Marseille and lost to Federer in the Dubai final.

In his tenth Grand Slam appearance and second at the US Open, eighth-seeded Tsitsipas, on a three-match losing run since Wimbledon, opens his account against Federer's Cincinnati conqueror Andrei Rublev before a second-round meeting with Bjorn Fratangelo or Giles Simon.

In a repeat of their Washington semifinal earlier in the season, the 21-year-old could run into mercurial Australian Nick Kyrgios in the third round.

A fourth-round meeting with Berretini or Roberto Bautista-Agut would land Tsitsipas in his first US Open quarterfinal where Gael Monfils and Dominic Thiem are probable opponents.

In his second major semifinal, Tsitsipas could face Karen Khachanov or Nadal for a place in his maiden Slam final where Federer or Djokovic might be waiting.

# 4: Karen Khachanov

Khachanov fell short in his first Grand Slam quarterfinal against Thiem at 2019 French Open.

The 2018 Paris-Bercy Masters winner turned around an underwhelming 10-12 start to the season with a maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance at the French Open where he fell to eventual finalist Dominic Thiem.

The four-time titlist is the second Russian player in the top-ten behind his good friend Daniil Medvedev and arrives at the US Open with a career-high world no. 8 ranking.

In his fourth appearance at Flushing Meadows, Khachanov opens his campaign against Vasek Pospisil and faces Tsonga or Sandgren in the second round. Diego Schwartzmann is the first seeded player in Khachanov's quarter of the draw.

Sascha Zverev is a potential fourth-round opponent before Cilic or Nadal could lie in wait in the quarterfinals.

Tsitsipas, Kyrgios, and Thiem could obstruct the Russian's path in the semis ahead of a maiden Slam final against either Federer or Djokovic.

# 5: Alexander Zverev

Sascha Zverev

Sascha Zverev is another dark horse for the US Open title. The two-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist, three-time Masters 1000 titlist, and reigning 2018 ATP Finals winner has never got past the third round in four previous appearances at Flushing Meadows.

The German opens his campaign against Moldovan Radu Albot before an explosive second round against Frances Tiafoe or Ivo Karlovic.

Frenchman Benoit Paire is the first seeded player in Zverev's quarter of the draw. Khachanov is a possible fourth-round opponent ahead of a quarterfinal against Cilic, Isner or Nadal.

In his first Grand Slam semifinal, Tsitsipas, Kyrgios or Thiem could lie in wait, before Federer or Djokovic looms large in the final.