The year’s fourth and final Grand Slam tournament is finally here. Novak Djokovic, the defending US Open champion, looks to remind everyone once again why he’s still the world’s No. 1 tennis player despite suffering a pair of early losses at Wimbledon and at the Rio Olympics. Can the Serbian maestro succeed in doing so, and ultimately retain his crown? Read on below and find out how things will unfold at Flushing Meadows through the eyes of the sport’s experts.
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2016 US Open Men’s Singles Expert Picks and Predictions
Bleacher Report
Expert
Prediction
James Dudko
Novak Djokovic
James Dudko of Bleacher Report, to no one’s surprise, is going with Novak Djokovic. Yes, he’s looked vulnerable as of late, but there’s no denying that the planet’s No.1-ranked tennis player is still at the top of his game. He’s in for a very tough road ahead, especially being placed in a draw where he could end up facing Marin Cilic in the quarterfinal.
Nonetheless, Djokovic is going to welcome this or any other challenge that awaits him with open arms. That mentality is precisely what makes him one of the fiercest and most successful competitors in the sporting world today.
And speaking of success, Djokovic’s 12 grand slam titles should be more than enough to prove his prowess and why he remains to be the hands-down favorite to come away with this year’s US Open title. He just, by the way, defeated his opening-round foe in Jerzy Janowicz of Poland after four sets (6-3,5-7,6-2,6-1).
FOX Sports
Expert
Prediction
Wally Masur
Andy Murray
FOX Sport’s Wally Masur has a different take. He states that Djokovic would have been his unanimous pick a few months back, but with the Serbian having lost some of his mettle in his recent tournaments, the next best choice would be none other than Andy Murray.
Murray, without question, has had a phenomenal season thus far and the only concern that Masur sees for him is fatigue. The Scotsman is fresh off a pair of wins at Wimbledon and at the Rio Olympics, both of which were undoubtedly impressive and obviously mentally and physically demanding at the same time.
Overall, expect Murray, who is favored (-8,000) to beat Lukas Rosol (+3,000) in the first round, to put himself in position to win his fourth career Grand Slam crown at Flushing Meadows as long as his body and mind doesn’t betray him.
NESN
Expert
Prediction
Nicholas Goss
Novak Djokovic
Nicholas Goss of NESN.com is well-aware of Djokovic’s recent shortcomings, but that’s not enough to stop Goss from putting his trust on the 12-time Grand Slam winner to successfully defend his US Open crown.
A highly-motivated Djokovic, according Goss, is going to be too tough to handle for the rest of the field in New York. And besides that, he’s far too talented to suffer another uncharacteristic setback in three-consecutive major events. The Serbian has found himself in the final in six of the previous seven Grand Slam tournaments, five of which resulted in eventual wins. He’s also reached the same round in five of the last six editions of the US Open.
