A three-team panel makes its argument for three different champions at the upcoming U.S. Open.
Josh Meiseles (The Sixth Set): Novak Djokovic – The U.S. Open is Djokovic’s to lose. The 2011 champ enters with a huge chip on his shoulder following recent defeats to rivals Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon and in Montreal, respectively, and he will be hungry for revenge on his preferred surface. Djokovic is a different animal in best-of-five set matches on hard courts. His conditioning and endurance are unmatched in today’s game and his superhuman stamina gives him a significant edge when entrenched in a war of attrition. On the fast courts of New York, the Serb’s ability to transition so effortlessly from defense to offense has proven to be lethal for his opponents. The aspect of his hard-court game that is the most striking is his agility and traction on the surface. For Djokovic, rhythm and timing depend heavily on his balance and movement. When he is in full control, particularly on hard courts, he becomes machine. When his comfort level wanes, however, his confidence has the tendency to sail off with it. This is partially to blame for his rather passive play since winning in Melbourne and Dubai early in the year. The world No. 1 needs that spark to rediscover his ruthless 2011 self, and having enjoyed much success over the years in New York, the familiar hunting ground should re-energize him.
This is the perfect time for Djokovic to win a second U.S. Open title, with Nadal not having played consecutive hard court events, let alone three in a row, since March 2012, with Murray perhaps still on his post-Wimbledon high, and with Federer mired in the worst funk of his career. If there is one player to give Djokovic the stiffest challenge, it will be Del Potro, who won their battle in Indian Wells and pushed Djokovic to the brink at Wimbledon. Still, the early nod goes to Djokovic to hoist the trophy on September 16.
Ricky Dimon: Andy Murray – Murray lost early in Montreal and watched Djokovic and Nadal steal the spotlight from him with an epic semifinal of their own, but what transpired last week is no reason at all to write off Murray from the upcoming U.S. Open. He won the thing in 2012 and became a completely different player as a result, having finally captured a Grand Slam. Case in point: with new belief in himself, Murray won Wimbledon for the first time this summer amidst Texas-sized pressure. The world No. 2 has won two of the last three majors in which he has participated and he has reached the final of three in a row. Granted Murray skipped the French Open, where he basically would have had no chance, but two of four titles and three of four finals is about as good as it can get.
Federer may not be a factor, Djokovic is not in peak form at the moment, and while Nadal is playing incredible tennis right now, the jury still has to be out for him on hard courts. Just as it’s almost impossible to beat the eight-time Roland Garros champion in three out of five on clay, it is similarly difficult–albeit not quite to the same extent–to topple Djokovic and Murray in best-of-five on hard courts. Against what should be his two biggest threats in Flushing Meadows, Murray is a respectable 4-4 in his last eight battles with Djokovic–including straight-setters in the Scot’s favor at the Olympics and Wimbledon. Murray has won five of his last eight hard-court meetings with Nadal.
Steen Kirby (Tennis East Coast): Rafael Nadal – A healthy Nadal has to be at least the co-favorite to win the USO this year (without the benefit of seeing a draw), as–quite simply–he is undefeated on hard courts this year (won both Indian Wells and Montreal). He was downright dominant at times in Montreal, including a victory over Djokovic in a match that went to a third-set tiebreaker but was still controlled by Nadal more often than not. The Spaniard is moving well, holding serve consistently, and the forehand is as RPM-rich as ever. Nadal these days will always have questions with his knee, especially with hard-court tennis in a five-set format at the U.S. Open, but if he can avoid long matches and hold his serve as well as he did at both Indian Wells and Montreal, he should win in straights with frequency–at least in the early rounds. Also, his loss in the first round of Wimbledon may actually have preserved his physical shape for the rest of the year.
Djokovic has not been nearly as good this year as he was in, say, 2011. Murray has had himself a great 2013 campaign but still seems less consistent for some reason than the other current Big 3 members. Furthermore, he has the pressure of defending the U.S. Open title (while Nadal has no points whatsoever on the line), and Nadal has a positive head-to-head against him should they meet. Mentioning other outside possibilities, mainly Del Potro and Federer…Delpo has had some issues staying healthy and although Federer could catch fire, recent signs do not point to that happening. In fact, depending on the draw, he could be out before week two.
who ya got if it started today?
nadal…unless djo wins cincy by putting up a really strong show,i pick rafa…waiting to see how muzz responds this week
Andy murray 😉
“and having enjoyed much success over the years in New York, the familiar hunting ground ”
Pray tell, what is the basis for such a statement about Djokovic? How many USOpen titles does Djokovic have? How many times has he been in the finals at Flushing Meadows? Compared to Rafa and Murray? That statement applies more to Fed than any of the above three imho.
“with Nadal not having played consecutive hard court events, let alone three in a row, since March 2012,”
So now we have a new “strike” against Rafa to explain why he sucks on HC. Well, he’s in the Cincy draw so that takes care of the “3 in a row” strike, what next, 4 in a row? Of course he skipped Miami after winning IW so that conveniently takes care of “he won 2 HC tournaments in a row, IW and Montreal”.
Well, I hope Rafa wins USOpen and you people run out of excuses to demean him.
ritb,
I agree! Well said! Unbelievable! Even after Rafa’s brilliant performance in the Montreal semis. Rafa is having the comeback of comebacks, but for some doubters nothing will make them see the light.
This is a guy who was out for seven months! Hello! Look at what he has accomplished!. No matter what kind of adversity or setback, Rafa just keeps on fighting and working to be the best he can be. He is not even in his best form yet, but look at what he has done. Who was picking him to win Montreal? Who was picking him to beat Djoker?
With all the garbage Rafa fans have had to read on these forums about how Rafa can’t win on hard courts, is a one-dimensional player, hasn’t beaten Djoker on hard courts, blah blah blah! Enough already! Rafa is looking fierce right now. His serve held up so well against Djoker. One break of serve? His ROS his court positioning. This from a guy who was knocked out in his first match at Wimbledon! But look at him now!
I say let’s get LOUD for Rafa!
@nny, what takes the cake is the shameless attempt to pad Novak’s resume. I mean, the perception being put out there is that Djokovic has been more successful in USOpen than Rafa and Muzza, he has not. People are trying to weave a “Rafa Clay King” narrative to Djokovic re HC. Unfortunately, it doesn’t pass muster, yet. Djokovic’s success on HC does not come close to Rafa’s domination on clay so they need to let it go. Rafa was not given the clay domination on a platter, he worked hard for it. Djokovic has to do the same, there are no short cuts.
Rafa is my favorite to win, no matter what.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/tennis/news/20130806/juan-martin-del-potro/
nice read up. Thought I should share it. 🙂
Too early to predict. Let’s get away with Cincy 1st.
I’ll pick Roger though. 😉
@Hawkeye, here is Rafa assessing the rankings permutations in order for him to regain the #1 spot:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2013/08/32/Montreal-Final-Nadal-Raonic.aspx
Sorry, no way am I going to predict anything right now. I want to see how they top players do at Cincy. However, I will say that Rafa is going to be in the hunt for the win. He didn’t do all that work on his game just to come to New York and see the sights! 🙂
“He didn’t do all that work on his game just to come to New York and see the sights! ”
nice on NNY!
………or go to see ‘Phantom of the Opera’ for the umpteenth time
That one’s even better! 🙂
😉
Didn’t Djoker lose a 5 setter to Andy at the USO last year? What makes his such an unbeatable beast in 5 setters on h/c. Sometimes people say these things off the top of their head without examining the evidence.
I hope my problem is solved now. I had to re-install Goggle Chrome, I keep my fingers crossed because I miss not being able to join in the debate here.
Good! Now please can we have @nadline back? This@claqueen character just does not have the same, how to say, va va voom!
If Djoker was that good on h/c he shouldn’t have so many 5 setters on a knife edge.
Well done Naddy! It’s not the same when you’re not present.
Still wondering about Lucky. Miss her in-depth commentaries. i know she stopped coming on TT towards the end because it had all got so vicious. Hope she is OK.
Do you know who I miss? Yes, chr18. I miss our mindless banter with him. Not the other trolls who followed him though…….
ed251137(:August 13, 2013 at 10:51 am),
Luckystar might come. She responded to chlorostoma, who asked her to join ‘The Grandstand’ (at the TT farewell article): “OK chloro, I may see you people there.”
I had missed her reply. So glad to hear she read TT in time to find our plans to meet up here.
Give clayqueen time. I, too miss chr18. Even though we did not see eye to eye and he was very hostile to Rafa it never came down to personal insults. I hope some of the decent anti-Rafans show up here.
Now, I’m still looking for you all on TalkTennis. If you want any subject discussed that’s the place to be as anyone can start a thread. There are some really dedicated Rafans there, along with Muzzans, Djokans and Feddans.
Nastashao has gone AWOL as well.
Good on you for sorting that out with Chrome, nadline! Welcome ‘back’.
Nadal won both HC tournements he has taken so far this year, at neither of which was he tipped as favorite. Why not this scenario repeats again at Cinci n USO?
Lucky is shetandluckyboy I guess on tennis.com..atleast the tonality of the posts..maybe we should ping her there
And its way too early to predict anything before the draw comes out