MEN TO WATCH AT THE US OPEN
RAFAEL NADAL (ESP)
Age: 32
Ranking: 1
Plays: left-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US102,326,975 ($A139.41 million)
Career titles: 80
Grand slam titles: 17 (Australian Open 2009; French Open 2005-08, 2010-14, 2017-18; Wimbledon 2008, 2010; US Open 2010, 2013, 2017)
US Open win-loss record: 53-10
Best US Open results: champion 2010, 2013, 2017
The world No.1 and defending champion has lost just three times all year, chalking up a tour-best five titles including his 17th major in Paris and won this month’s Toronto Masters to underline his favouritism.
ROGER FEDERER (SUI)
Age: 37
Ranking: 2
Plays: right-handed
Career prize money: $US117,507,812 ($A160.09 million)
Career titles: 98
Grand slam titles: 20 (Australian Open 2004, 2006-07, 2010, 2017-18; French Open 2009; Wimbledon 2003-07, 2009, 2012, 2017; US Open 2004-2008)
US Open win-loss record: 82-12
Best US Open results: champion 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Hard to gauge the veteran great’s form on only one hard-court lead-up event. He hasn’t reigned in New York in a decade but is seeded to make his first final since losing to Juan Martin del Potro in 2009.
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO (ARG)
Age: 29
Ranking: 3
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US22,518,923 ($A30.68 million)
Career titles: 22
Grand slam titles: 1 (US Open 2009)
US Open win-loss record: 29-8
Best US Open result: champion 2009
The big Argentine is undoubtedly back to his best after multiple career-saving wrist surgeries and loves the super-fast hard courts where his sledgehammer forehand can cause untold damage, especially if it’s hot.
ALEXANDER ZVEREV (GER)
Age: 21
Ranking: 4
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US11,555,154 ($A15.74 million)
Career titles: 9
Grand slam titles: 0
US Open win-loss record: 2-3
Best US Open results: second round 2016, 2017
The German star’s tour-leading 43 wins in 2018 include title success at last month’s Washington Open but he has yet to reach a grand slam semi-final and has a poor record at Flushing Meadows.
KEVIN ANDERSON (RSA)
Age: 32
Ranking: 5
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US13,486,136 ($A18.37 million)
Career titles: 4
Grand slam titles: 0
US Open win-loss record: 27-10
Best US Open result: finalist 2017
With runs to the final at Flushing Meadows and Wimbledon in the past 12 months, the South African has emerged as a bona fide grand slam contender and could well sneak off with the title if the big dogs fall.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC (SRB)
Age: 31
Ranking: 6
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US115,310,890 ($A157.10 million)
Career titles: 70
Grand slam titles: 13 (Australian Open 2008, 2011-2013, 2015-16; French Open 2016; Wimbledon 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018; US Open 2011, 2015)
US Open win-loss record: 62-10
Best US Open results: champion 2011, 2015
The resurgent Serb is a seven-times finalist in New York and looms as Nadal’s greatest threat after rediscovering his mojo at Wimbledon and backing that up in Cincinnati to complete an unprecedented set of Masters 1000 crowns.
BEST OUTSIDER
STEFANOS TSITSIPAS (GRE)
Age: 20
Ranking: 15
Plays: right-handed
Career prize money: $US2,008,000 ($A2.74 million)
Career titles: 0
Grand slam titles: 0
US Open win-loss record: on debut
The young Greek sensation continued his meteoric rise with wins over Djokovic, Zverev, Anderson and French Open finalist Dominic Thiem en route to this month’s Toronto Masters final, confirming himself as the real deal.
BEST AUSTRALIAN HOPES
NICK KYRGIOS
Age: 23
Ranking: 30
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US6,389,404 ($A8.70 million)
Career titles: 4
Grand slam titles: 0
US Open win-loss record: 4-5
Best US Open results: third round 2014, 2016
The enigmatic star has endured an underwhelming lead-up and doubts remain over his ability to go the grand slam distance but his talent and potential can’t be questioned.
ALEX DE MINAUR
Age: 19
Ranking: 43
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US856,406 ($A1.17 million)
Career titles: 0
Grand slam titles: 0
US Open win-loss record: 0-1
Best US Open results: first round 2017
The second-youngest player in the world’s top 50 has enjoyed a breakout season, reaching two ATP finals, in Sydney and last month in Washington, and will be a worthy opponent for any seed in the draw.
