The fourth and last Grand Slam event of the year is just around the corner, and exciting matches are bound to happen. According to TonyBet bookie, some favorites are very clear, but as last year’s U.S. Open showed, a dark-horse win can always happen.
Here are the top three favorites—both men’s and women’s—and the extra potential dark horses.
Men’s Favorites
1) Novak Djokovic
Djokovic is firmly atop the ATP rankings. The world No. 1 has already triumphed at two Grand Slams this year—the Australian Open and Wimbledon—and went to the French Open final. But despite those results, he lost to Roger Federer in Cincinnati and before that to Andy Murray in Montreal (both in finals). This shows Djokovic can be beaten; but he may also be saving his best form for the U.S. Open.
2) Roger Federer
While Federer has not enjoyed as impressive a year as Djokovic, the Swiss still did well for the most part in the previous Grand Slam events, climbing up from third round at the Australian Open to the quarterfinals at the French Open to the final at Wimbledon. Although he lost again to Djokovic at the All-England Club, Federer later beat the Serb in Cincinnati to go along with a win over Murray in the semis. That gave Federer the No. 2 seed in New York. He seems to be in a brilliant form and definitely has a good chance of winning.
3) Andy Murray
The world No. 3 won the U.S. Open in 2012, but he has not gone further than the quarterfinals ever since. Murray started the 2015 Grand Slam season going to the final at the Australian Open, followed by making it to the semis at both the French Open and Wimbledon. He managed to beat one of his chief rivals (Djokovic) in Montreal but afterwards lost to Federer in the Cincinnati semis. Still, Murray is in good form and should have a shot at the championship.
Dark Horse: Grigor Dimitrov
For a chunk of promising players it would be quite a jump to win the U.S. Open. However, Dimitrov looks like the one who just might be able to do it. Although it is admittedly improbable that the world No. 17 will be the champion, his recent loss to Murray in Cincinnati actually revealed that he is in good enough form. What he is lacking is mostly in his mental game. Dimitrov has reached at least the fourth round of three Grand Slams, including the semis at Wimbledon (2014) and the quarters of the Aussie (2014).
Women’s Favorites
1) Serena Williams
The phrase “Serena Williams is Serena Williams’ only real challenge” is quickly becoming a big cliché in tennis. The world No. 1 is in absolutely amazing form, having already won three major titles this year, and she is going for the calendar-year Grand Slam. Besides, she’s already won the U.S. Open six times and she is the three-time defending champion. At this point it would be far more surprising if Serena does not win rather than if she does.
2) Victoria Azarenka
The Belarusian is a former world No. 1 and current 20th seed. She has made it to the U.S. Open final twice, and she advanced to the quarterfinals last year. Azarenka‘s 2015 season has been solid so far, and even though Serena looks unbeatable, Azarenka is the one player that could provide a serious challenge. Even with her left thigh injury that forced her retire from a match in Cincinnati, Azarenka should be able to play some world-class tennis.
3) Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova hasn’t won a Grand Slam title this year yet, but she made it to the finals in Australian Open, semi-finals in Wimbledon and the fourth round in French Open. She was ranked as the 3rd seed, and should be well rested to play in the US Open, as she hasn’t had any matches since Wimbledon. Sharapova had a good year, and she will be a tough challenge for any opponent in the upcoming tournament.
Dark Horse: Belinda Bencic
The world No. 12 is only 18 years old—and yet she managed to beat Serena in Toronto on Aug. 16. Even though it was not during a Grand Slam, overcoming the world No. 1 shows that Bencic definitely has the potential to be the next big name in the sport. That being said, in Cincinnati she had to retire with a right wrist injury. If that does not prevent her from being is a good shape, Bencic may be able to shake up the tennis world in New York.
The first round of the 2015 U.S. Open starts on Monday, Aug. 31 and the tournament will conclude on Sept. 13. Marin Cilic is the defending champion on the men’s side, while Serena Williams is the three-time women’s defending champion. Together, the participating tennis players will share more than 40 million U.S. dollars in prize money.
