The US Open gets underway next week, a tournament in which Australia has a proud history.
Defending men’s singles champion and world number 1 Novak Djokovic will be looking to put surprising early exits at both Wimbledon and the Olympics behind him.
The Serbian lost to America’s Sam Querrey in the third round at Wimbledon, and to Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro in the first round at Rio.
Djokovic is still the favourite with the bookmakers though, at $2 to win his third US Open title, ahead of 2016 Wimbledon champion and current world number 2 Andy Murray (Scotland) at $3.25.
Of the top-ranked Australians, Nick Kyrgios is at $41 and Bernard Tomic is at the long odds of $201.
Krygios’ best result at this tournament has been reaching the third round, in 2014, while Tomic made the third round last year.
In the women’s singles, 2015 champion Flavia Pennetta (Italy) has retired and won’t be there to defend the title she won on a fairytale run as the 26th seed last year.
World number 1 Serena Williams is the top, chasing her seventh US Open championship. She is also on the heels of her 23rd grand slam singles title, looking to surpass Germany’s Steffi Graf, who won 22 in her career. Australia’s Margaret Court holds the record, with 24 career singles titles.
The women’s grand slams have thrown up three different winners this year – Germany’s Angelique Kerber at the Australian Open, Spain’s Garbiñe Muguruza in the French Open, and Williams at Wimbledon. Williams was the beaten finalist at both the Australian and French Opens in 2016.
Williams is the favourite with the bookmakers, at $2.37, followed by Muguruza, at $9, Romania’s Simona Halep, $10, and Kerber, $11.
Australia’s Sam Stosur, who beat Williams in the 2011 final, is at $101.
Australia hasn’t had a men’s singles champion at this open since Lleyton Hewitt in 2001, although 11 have won the title – Pat Rafter (twice), John Newcombe (twice), Ken Rosewall (twice), Rod Laver (twice), Neale Fraser (twice), Roy Emerson (twice), Frank Sedgman (twice), Hewitt, Fred Stolle, Ashley Cooper and Mal Anderson.
Stosur was our last female champion, joining five-time winner Court as the only two Australian women to have taken out the event.
Who are your tips for the US Open men’s and women’s singles titles in 2016?
BrainsTrust
Guest
Maybe Djokovic needs to stop his sliding around I don;t think a near 30 year old can afford to play like that.. Federer is really unlucky because he has had so many quality players younger following him .If Federer was the same age now he would be winning grand slam after grand slam. Murray is nearly 30 as well and there is no realy any good . . If crackpot Kyrgios is the most talented player in from 20 and above followed by half-hearted Tomic then the tennis no 1 could be anyone's in two years.
Ray
Roar Rookie
I'm tipping the Joker to get back to the winner's list in the men's, he should be hungry after Wimbledon and the Olympics. In the women's, even though it is Serena's backyard, I'm tipping a 4th different major winner for this year. Simona Halep was semi finalist at Flushing Meadows last year and is young and on the rise.