The U.S. Open draw ceremony took place on Thursday afternoon in New York, where the Novak Djokovic’s name was always going to be the big story.
And what a story it is: the reigning Wimbledon champion has landed in the same quarter of the bracket as Roger Federer. Although the majority of the section is soft outside of those two all-time greats, Federer could also have to face Nick Kyrgios in the third round.
In the top half, Rafael Nadal and Kevin Anderson are on a collision course for the quarterfinals in what would be a rematch of last year’s title match–won by the Spaniard in straight sets. It will be an all-Spanish affair right away for Nadal, as good friend and familiar foe David Ferrer is his first-round opponent. Round three is arguably the only chance as a stumbling block for either Nadal (vs. Karen Khachanov) or Anderson (vs. Denis Shapvalov).
Perhaps the biggest news in the top half is another first-rounder between Grigor Dimitrov and Stan Wawrinka, who had to go head-to-head right off the bat Wimbledon. The winner of that one could run into Milos Raonic during third-round action. They are all in Juan Martin Del Potro’s quarter, which is also headlined by a potential showdown between the Argentine and Andy Murray in the last 32.
Rounding out the bracket as potential semifinal adversaries for either Federer or Djokovic in the bottom half are Alexander Zverev and 2014 U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic. It is a friendly section for both Zverev and Cilic, although the German could collide with Kei Nishikori in round four.
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discuss
Nadal – Federer what a Final that will be!!!
Er, would be? So far I’m one of 2 who picked Fed rather than Djoko to win that quarter.
Djoko must be injured.
Marion Vajda will not be happy.
Anyone know which side of the draw will play on the first day?
MJ- there is no rhyme or reason to which half plays first day. Last year was different than other years.
Fed’s half always plays first.
That looks like a fair draw. Djoko and Kyrgios in Fed’s quarter. Very difficult draw for Fed. Probably the toughest from top 4 seeds. But that’s good. He will have to raise him level.
SOMEBODY said it was #NID that Djokovic would be in Rafa’s quarter! 😉What happened??
They must have mistaken Rafa for Fed and handed him a relatively easy draw. Teasing of course 😉
The powers that be have written Fed off after Wimbly and are throwing the old guy under the bus? Or they figure the Djoker is just a flash in the pan.
Believe me folks, failing fake news Krazy Kevin is just trying to twist my words.
Apparently, I said that Djoko “WOULDN’T” be in Federer’s quarter.
The sentence should have been, “I don’t see any reason why it WOULD be” sort of a double negative.
So you can put that in, and I think that probably clarifies things pretty good.
#NID
Thank you for bringing that up! When are we going to be done with the silly conspiracy theories?
#DoubleStandards
#Shameless
#HeWillBeBackThough
^^^
#MyBiggestFan
#Kisses
Anyone can check the reply your reply to Eugene on 21st August where you mentioned rafone draw would be bad
https://tenngrand.com/2018/08/21/u-s-open-seeds-djokovic-top-eight/
#BUTYOUARESHAMELESS
#IKNOWYOUWILLBEBACK
Why should we have shame? Do you have shame fedexol?
Let go of your shame fedexol.
It will set you free.
It didnt set you free, still in a closet
Ah, so you are a homophobe then. Not surprising.
There is nothing wrong with being LGBTQ fedexol.
Whatever. Not everyone can be shameless like you. Poor Rafa deserves much better.
You hatred for Fed is more than your love for Rafa. Just explains you.
#STILLTURNINGUP
#GOATINSHAMELESSNESS
Not everyone is a homophobe like you. Poor society deserves much better.
Your hatred for LGBTQ just explains you more.
I don’t worry as much about Novak as I do about Kyrgios, because he’s the 1st major obstacle.
You said there was a 33% chance that none of the big 3 would win anyway Eugene!
Glad rafa hasn’t got NK or nole! Muller is close by but probably he loses to KK.
I still think so. Rafa – Fed is what I WANT to see in the final.
I think there is a greater chance the winner will not be Rafa, Roger or Novak than one of them.
Novak is surely making it to the qf..he has all softies till qf…Fed kyrgios third round could be cracker but ny crowd will boo kyrgios n ensure he blows apart haha…we are surely getting fedole qf
Novak is the fav in that match but you never know..Fed can beat him
For Rafa beating kachanov then Edmund then Anderson/thiem then potro/tsitsipas is anything but easy
Agree, Rafa’s draw seems easier on paper, but Kachanov is nothing but easy in round 3.
Could be a whole lot worse sanju!! His draw is tough but manageable…Edmund and thiem may well exit early..
Fed has toughest quarter by a million miles! NK AND nole!
Imagine what we would be saying if rafa had got Fed’s draw!
Nice one Amy. Truth is the best. No excuses.
☺☺
Yes but Karen is tricky…though manageable….hope Rafa is sharp
Karen makes tons of ues sanju! Rafa will only lose that if he plays badly…
Yes Sanju,I intended to say that Karen is not easy; anyway is not a bad draw at all for Rafa. No Sacha, Nick or Djoko there …
Sascha is miles easier than Delpo !!!
It depends Amy. Delpo is a bit slow and heavy. Only his big FH and almost a perfect game with more winners than UE would help him win. Rafa moves much better.
Is that a joke? Rafa has a very good draw! I mean you have to be kidding to think that is a tough draw! Khachanov is not going to beat Rafa. Edmund and Anderson? We are supposed to be afraid of them?
I agree with amy here. The worst thing would have been Novak and Kyrgios in Rafa’s part of the draw.
Hi nny!!☺☺
Feeling relieved tbh! No Nick and Nole!
Tschh amy… Hawk doesn’t like to hear that. Novak in Nadal quarter would have been much easier to blame the circumstances and organisers.
You’re right, NNY- Rafa has possibly the best draw he could ever ask for. NOBODY in his quarter can even come close to touching him in best of 5 at the US Open…
Who is the *unlucky* one? Dimitrov or Wawrinka? Discuss 🙂
Dimitrov…
hint: the one who is seeded
If rafa has to meet Novak, I would rather have it happen in round 4 or quarters than the finals or semis. Rafa would play with less pressure. Rafa has mental issues with Novak. this was evident in the wimbledon match.
I know that it’s a new year, but Fed is going into the Open this year having had pretty much the same hardcourt summer as he had last year. And we all saw what happened to Fed at the Open last year… He went 5 sets with Tiafoe and Youzny. I repeat, Tiafoe and Youzny. If he’s in the same mind state/form this year, and he barely survived Tiafoe and 50 year old Youzny, what the hell will happen when he faces Kyrgios, a dude who can legitimately beat any player on any day? Even a not-100%-fit Kyrgios is a hundred times more dangerous than 2017 Tiafoe and Youzny…
If there was ever a time when Kyrgios played the match of his life, it would be Roynd 3 US Open against Roger Federer, am I wrong? Not to mention that EVERY match this two have ever played were nail-bitingly close. Fed’s return game was absolutely disgraceful in Cinci. If he can’t serve absolutely perfectly against Kyrgios to at least get to tiebreaks, then he is done for.
Now, obviously it’s possible that Fed just suddenly looks solid again after Months of not looking like himself. He could breeze through to the QF. But I’m skeptical… I hope he can get back to a good level, but I’ve also accepted that we can only expect so much from a 37 year old who, according to precedent, should be retired or at best, not even in the top 50 anymore.
I also really want a Fed-Nole QF because I have tickets to both QF days! 🤗🤗🤗
IMO Kyrgios has some serious fitness/injury issues. Not at all sure he can get through B of 5 vs anyone nowadays.
Yeah, Kyrgios bothers me more than Novak. I think he can defeat the Serb, who needs some relief time after winning Wimby and played at 2 consecutive masters weeks later.
Here’s a half-bold prediction (one clearly more safe than the other): Whoever wins Fed vs. Kyrgios goes on to take the title.
you must be picking Fed to win that match then!
Can’t wait for Rafa-Fed final!!!…and Isner can win his quarter!!!
great draw for Isner…but can he actually capitalize at 2 slams in a row?
I’m going to be in New York for mid-Saturday and Sunday. I REALLY hope the bottom half plays second – I would LOVE to see Federer-Kyrgios.
Bummer for Fed getting Kyrgios AND Nole. Nice draw for Nadal.
i’m going to be in New York the entire first week…so I don’t care when Fed-Kyrgios is!!!!!
Ricky, will you be there for the QF at all?
Typical. 🙁
😀
Fed-Kyrgios could be a damp squib, recent form
Kyrgios won’t beat Fed best of five. Nole a much bigger threat.
No doubt. Fed got Rafa’s draw for the first time ever.
Fed will get four night matches and Nole will bake in the sun four times before meeting Fed who will be used to night conditions.
If it’s hot in NY, maybe it will be a case of stick a fork in him, he’s done. Might let Fed turn the tables on Nole one last time.
We gonna see. Just glad Rafa never got feds draw for a change.
Well, Djoker-Fed is a tough match. Not Fed-Kyrgios. Kyrgios might not make it to round 3.
Also, I don’t think Rafa’s draw is easy. He gets Anderson and DelPo btb and these are tough matches. Fed-Djoker SF will be a lot easier as Zverev most probably wont come thru and Cilic cant win .
That said it remains to be seen, who makes and honors this draw. Wimby draw panned out lot differently.
Oh boy! Rafa’s draw cannot get any cushier. I will be in NY for R16 on Monday, qf on wednesday and for semi, final. Hope to see Rafa biting the trophy 🙂
VMK, I thought you’re a Djoko fan but it seems I’m wrong.
It seems the US open draw was done behind the scenes n just revealed to people. It was not done live . Ben rothenberg tweeted that.
everyone tweeted that, as everyone could “watch” the draw if they wanted to.
and yes.