We’re only a few days away from the start of the 2015 US Open and excitement is definitely building for the year’s final Grand Slam tournament. All eyes will be on Novak Djokovic as he attempts to win his third Grand Slam title of the year. Read on below as we break down his first-round matchup with Joao Souza, as well as the much-anticipated showdown between Rafael Nadal and Borna Coric. While you’re at it, you can check out the experts’ picks for this year’s US Open tennis tournament.
Novak Djokovic had his four-match winning streak snapped last week with a straight-sets defeat to Roger Federer in the finals of the Cincinnati Masters. He lost 7-6, 6-3 to the 17-time Grand Slam champion in a match that lasted just 90 minutes. It was a disappointing result for Djokovic, who lost his second consecutive tour final. He fell to 0-5 in Cincinnati finals.
[sc:Other240banner ]He will look to get his season back on track when he takes on Joao Souza in the first round of the US Open. Djokovic has never faced the young Brazilian before. The Serbian will have no problem beating Souza, though, especially if he can continue his strong service play. He is fifth in the ATP Tour in service games won this season with an incredible 90% clip.
Souza is coming off a quick first-round exit at the Winston-Salem Open, losing 6-3, 6-4 to Malek Jaziri. The Brazilian is just 2-8 in his last 10 outings. Djokovic, on the other hand, has won eight of his last 10 matches. He is pegged at EVEN to win the US Open this year.
Writer’s Prediction
Djokovic (-15,000) destroys Souza in three easy sets.
Rafael Nadal (+1,000) makes his much-awaited return to Flushing Meadows next week after missing the tournament last year with a wrist injury. The Spanish great has had some success in this event before, winning the US Open titles back in 2010 and 2013. That being said, Nadal has struggled mightily with his game this year.
His run of five straight French Open titles ended with a quarterfinal defeat to Novak Djokovic, before he was upset in the second round at Wimbledon by 102nd-ranked qualifier Dustin Brown. Nadal’s poor form continued this month with the 29-year-old failing to advance past the quarterfinals of two hard-court warmups.
To make matters worse for Nadal, he will face the ever-dangerous Borna Coric in the opening round of the US Open. He has an 0-1 slate against the Croatian, with their lone meeting coming in the quarterfinals of the Swiss Open last year. Nadal shockingly lost to Coric in straight sets, 6-2, 7-6 (4). Coric is 5-5 in his last 10 matches, while Nadal is 7-3 in his last 10 outings.
Writer’s Prediction
Nadal (-650) edges past Coric in a five-set thriller.
