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2015 US Open: Men's singles preview

Roar Guru
25th August, 2015
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Novak Djokovic has won the Sunshine Double four times. (AFP Photo/Paul Crock)
Roar Guru
25th August, 2015
5
1840 Reads

The year’s final Grand Slam tournament is now a week away and given the form that some of the world’s top men have shown so far this year, it will be hard to predict a winner with any real confidence.

World number one Novak Djokovic will again start favourite to salute at Flushing Meadows, as he looks to cap off a dominant season at the Grand Slams in which he won his fifth Australian Open title and third Wimbledon title on either side of a runner-up showing at the French Open.

Challenging him, as always, will be second and third seeds Roger Federer and Andy Murray, who claimed crucial lead-up tournaments at Cincinnati and Montreal, respectively, both at the world number one’s expense.

Defending champion Marin Cilic, last year’s runner-up Kei Nishikori and French Open champion Stan Wawrinka will also be out to prove their worths and sabotage what is likely to be another Grand Slam final between Djokovic and Federer.

Let’s now have a look at some of the major contenders for the 2015 US Open:

Novak Djokovic
Current world ranking: 1

US Open history
Best result: Won (2011)
Last year’s result: Semi-finals

Grand Slam results so far in 2015
Australian Open: Won
French Open: Runner-up
Wimbledon: Won

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Titles so far this year: Australian Open, Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Rome, Wimbledon

Despite finishing runner-up to Andy Murray and Roger Federer at the Montreal and Cincinnati Masters respectively, world number one Novak Djokovic will start a prohibitive favourite to claim the final Grand Slam tournament of the year.

The top seed has enjoyed a dominant season at the majors so far in 2015, reclaiming the Australian Open as well as successfully retaining the title at Wimbledon, while falling short yet again at the French Open.

The Djoker will also be out to improve his US Open record; from five finals at Flushing Meadows, only once was he victorious, when he defeated defending champion Rafael Nadal to win in 2011.

He has also been on the wrong end of defeats to Nadal (twice, in 2010 and 2013), Federer (in his first Grand Slam final in 2007) and Murray (who, by winning in 2012, became the first British man since Fred Perry in 1936 to win a Grand Slam title), while last year he was upset in the semi-finals by Kei Nishikori.

But if there is ever a perfect time to land a second US Open title, it’s this year.

Prediction: Champion

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Roger Federer
Current world ranking: 2

US Open history
Best result: Won (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)
Last year’s result: Semi-finals

Grand Slam results so far in 2015
Australian Open: Third round
French Open: Quarter-finals
Wimbledon: Runner-up

Titles so far this year: Brisbane, Dubai, Istanbul, Halle, Cincinnati

He may have turned 34 earlier in the month but there is no doubting that Roger Federer still has what it takes to contend at the major tournaments, if his title win in Cincinnati and runner-up showing at Wimbledon is anything to go by.

The Swiss claimed a seventh title in the Ohio capital last week by defeating Novak Djokovic in straight sets, but not before defeating Andy Murray in similarly clinical fashion in the semi-finals.

That has seen him steal the second seeding from Murray for the US Open, where Federer will be hoping to improve on recent performances, whereby he hasn’t saluted at Flushing Meadows since winning the last of his five titles in 2008 and hasn’t reached the final since being upset by Juan Martin del Potro in 2009.

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However, judging by his consistent form all year, then you can bet on him returning to the final for the first time in six years, where Novak Djokovic could possibly await.

Prediction: Final

Andy Murray
Current world ranking: 3

US Open history
Best result: Won (2012)
Last year’s result: Quarter-finals

Grand Slam results so far in 2015
Australian Open: Runner-up
French Open: Semi-finals
Wimbledon: Semi-finals

Titles so far this year: Munich, Madrid, Queen’s, Montreal

After a dismal 2014 season in which he dropped out of the world’s top ten for the first time since 2008, world number three Andy Murray has returned to top form this year, reaching another Australian Open final, claiming four titles and returning to the world’s top four for the first time in twelve months.

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Among the Scot’s four titles include his first two on clay courts, including at the Madrid Masters where he upset Rafael Nadal in straight sets to win his most significant title on the surface.

He had earlier won in Munich while he has also won a joint-record fourth title at Queen’s as well as recently in Montreal where he ended an eight-match losing streak against Novak Djokovic in the final to win there.

Thus, Murray will be one to watch for as he attempts to replicate the success he enjoyed in 2012, when he defeated Djokovic in a gripping five-set final to become Britain’s first male Grand Slam champion since Fred Perry in 1936.

The question will be whether he can improve on recent performances at Flushing Meadows and get past the quarter-final stage for the first time since that aforementioned success three years ago.

If his form is anything to go by, then yes.

Prediction: Semi-finals.

Stan Wawrinka
Current world ranking: 5

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US Open history
Best result: Semi-finals (2013)
Last year’s result: Quarter-finals

Grand Slam results so far in 2015
Australian Open: Semi-finals
French Open: Won
Wimbledon: Quarter-finals

Titles so far this year: Chennai, Rotterdam, French Open

After dropping out of the world’s top five following the failed defence of his Australian Open title earlier this year, world number five Stan Wawrinka has bounced back in more ways than one.

The Swiss has claimed three titles for the year, including his second Grand Slam title at the French Open where he thwarted Novak Djokovic’s bid to complete his Career Grand Slam.

Since then he was upset in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon by Richard Gasquet and was forced to retire in his first match at the Montreal Masters due to a back injury before being thrashed by Djokovic in the quarter-finals at Cincinnati last week.

Wawrinka’s recent US Open record makes for good reading: he reached his first Grand Slam semi-final in 2013 by handing defending champion Andy Murray a straight-sets humiliation, while last year he reached the quarter-finals only to lose to eventual finalist Kei Nishikori.

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It will now remain to be seen whether he can reach a third Grand Slam final at Flushing Meadows, which if he does, he would give himself a good shot of winning a third Grand Slam title.

Prediction: Semi-finals

Other contenders
Last year’s finalists, Kei Nishikori and Marin Cilic, will headline the long list of contenders at the US Open, and a lot of interest will center on whether the former can go one better, and how the latter will fare in his title defence.

Nishikori has enjoyed a consistent season so far in 2015, winning three titles and reaching a career-high ranking of world number four, while Cilic has endured a below-average season and risks dropping out of the top 20 with an early loss.

Despite his poor form all year, former world number one and two-time US Open champion Rafael Nadal should also never be counted out.

The Spaniard missed last year’s tournament due to injury but will be buoyed by an impressive recent record at Flushing Meadows, whereby he has reached at least the semi-finals in his last five appearances, including reaching the final in 2010, 2011 and 2013, winning in the former and latter years.

Local hopes will hinge on serving machine John Isner and rising star Jack Sock, who won the boys’ title in 2010 and has won two Grand Slam doubles titles, one each in the mixed (with Melanie Oudin at the 2011 US Open) and men’s (with Vasek Pospisil at Wimbledon last year) categories.

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As always, Australian interest will centre on controversial Australian Nick Kyrgios, who earlier this week was handed a $25,000 fine and a suspended 28-day ban by the ATP following his recent sledging of French Open champion Stan Wawrinka.

His mentor, 2001 champion Lleyton Hewitt, will play at Flushing Meadows for the very final time after he was awarded a wildcard into the tournament, his singles ranking having fallen well beyond the top 100.

These are just some of the male contenders for this year’s US Open title. Can Novak Djokovic move on from two runner-up showings and win a third US Open title? Can Roger Federer add to his stalled Grand Slam tally of 17? Or can Andy Murray repeat his 2012 success on the back of his good form this year?

All those and plenty more will be answered when the US Open gets underway this Tuesday morning (AEST).

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