The tennis season has been a wild ride this 2014, and we’re through to the final grand slam of the year as the best tennis players in the world play under the bright lights of New York. With the absence of defending champion Rafael Nadal due to an injured wrist, the men’s singles draw is suddenly wide open for the rest of the Big Four in Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
Meanwhile, fresher faces such as Stanislas Wawrinka and the surging Milos Raonic will take their crack at the top seeds and establish their own legacies. For more tennis action, head over to our preview of the women’s singles draw, featuring the defending champion Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova. In the meantime, read on for a complete preview of the thrilling men’s singles draw.
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U.S. Open Men’s Singles Preview and Predictions
Where: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York
The world No. 1, Novak Djokovic (EVEN), is a versatile crusher who possesses great ground strokes from both wings of the court, and his backhand is regarded as the best today.
[sc:Other240banner ]However, the Serbian has struggled to deliver his top form at the right moments this year, especially in grand slam events. He lost a five-set thriller to Stanislas Wawrinka in the Australian Open, and lost to Rafael Nadal on the clay court in Roland Garros. In the lead up to the U.S. Open, the world No. 1 exited in the third round of the Rogers Cup and the Cincinnati Masters, both played on the hard court.
With Novak Djokovic struggling, Roger Federer is worth a look at +250 to win his 18th career-grand slam title. Regarded as the greatest tennis player of all time by many pundits, Federer owns the most grand slam titles of any men’s singles player (17). Even as he ages, Federer’s finesse-based style gives him an edge over most players, especially with his unique strokes like the backhand smash and half-volley.
Federer is entering the U.S. Open on the heels of winning 18 of his last 20 matches since the French Open, with wins at Halle and Cincinnati. He will also benefit from the withdrawal of defending champion Rafael Nadal due to injury. Federer is down 23-10 in career head-to-head meetings with the Spaniard and is 2-8 on outdoor hard court surfaces. The absence of Nadal also moves Federer up to the second seed in the tournament, ensuring an easier path to the final.
High-Value Picks – Stanislas Wawrinka and Milos Raonic
Stanislas Wawrinka (+1,400) will be bringing his fast serve to the hard court of the U.S. Open. Wawrinka has steadily improved over the years and broke through in 2013, defeating then-defending champion Andy Murray at the U.S. Open to make his first semifinal appearance in a grand slam. The momentum continued as he then won the Australian Open title, becoming the first man to defeat both Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in a single grand slam.
Wawrinka wasn’t the only one riding a wave after a major result. Milos Raonic, fresh off his first grand slam semifinal at Wimbledon, went on to win 10 of his next 12 matches with a win at the Citi Open in Washington for his first title of the season. With the favorites currently struggling with their forms (with the exception of Federer), Raonic is ripe for a breakout performance at the U.S. Open. At +2,500, it is hard to pass on the young Canadian who possesses a wicked serve and a devastating forehand.
David Ferrer (+5,000) is one of the most athletic and agile players on the court today. Along with Djokovic, Ferrer is one of the best returners in the game. His mobility allows him to cutoff his opponents, and smash an unexpected return while they are off balance. Ferrer is in top form leading into the U.S. Open, reaching the semi-final of the Rogers Cup as well as the final of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, but lost both games against Roger Federer. Aside from the Big Four, Ferrer will be hard to stop.
John Isner (+8,000) is a towering figure standing at 6’10” with a very powerful and consistent serve and a big follow-up forehand to go along with it. The American’s power has led him to record upsets over the the first seed, Djokovic, in the past two years in Masters Tournaments at Indian Wells and Cincinnati in 2012 and 2013 respectively. Isner will also have the advantage of playing at home in front of thousands of Americans rooting for him. He’s worth a look all tournament long.
Writer’s Prediction
Roger Federer (+250) is close to unstoppable right now, considering Djokovic’s struggles and Nadal’s withdrawal. Federer will add a sixth U.S. Open title and 18th career grand slam to add to his legacy.
