Djokovic, Nadal, Federer and chasing pack at the US Open

Written by: Global Chick on 25th August 2011

Djokovic, Nadal, Federer and chasing pack at the US Open

Rafael Nadal of Spain draws chips out of the championship trophy during the draw ceremony for the 2011 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing, Meadows, New York, USA, 25 August 2011. EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT |

Novak Djokovic: Is without a doubt the favourite to win next weeks US Open. The World No. 1 has lost two matches this year one to Federer at the French Open and the other lost match was last week against Andy Murray when the Serb had to retire due to injury. He won Wimbledon and Australian Open and he has accumulated five ATP World Tour Masters Series titles in the last 8 months. Providing the current Superman of tennis can stay injury and nerve free, it looks like he will win his third Grand Slam for the year.

Rafael Nadal: Burst on to the tennis scene, fit, feisty, strong, determined and with very tight shorts he was the new poster boy of tennis. The World No. 2’s success since he reached the Wimbledon final (l.Djokovic), has been non existent compared to what he is used to. He lost first round to Ivan Dodig in Montreal. An easy loss to Mardy Fish in the quarterfinals of Cincinnati has not really improved his confidence. We’re hoping to see the defending Champion back in-form again for the US Open after a week off from completion.

Roger Federer: Up until this year he could do no wrong. The master of tennis needs to find his form again to conquer a Grand Slam. The Fed regained some form last week in Cincinnati when he defeated former US Open Champ Juan Martin Del Potro and James Blake. The Swiss star’s bogeyman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has beaten him twice recently. Let’s not forget Federer reached the final of the French Open. A disappointing year only having won a single title in Doha in January. Don’t count him out but right now Djokovic looks like Federer did between 2004-08.

Andy Murray: 2011 has been a very consistent year for the Brit. With a final of the Australian Open (l. Djokovic), semi-finals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon his Grand Slam record this year has been great. This year Murray has won the titles at Queens and in Cincinnati last week. The 24-year-old was the runner up in 2008 (l. Federer).

Mardy Fish: Mardy Fish is enjoying his position as the American No. 1. The hometown hero has produced some great results in the last couple of months. The American reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon (l. Nadal). After the second Grand Slam of the year he went on to win the Atlanta tournament, reach the final in Los Angeles (l. Gulbis), and made the final of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 in Montreal (l. Djokovic). He finished off the American tennis swing with a semi-final spot in Cincinnati last week where he lost to Andy Murray.

Tomas Berdych: The smiling Czech player is currently ranked No. 9. Early in the year Berdych reached the quarters of the Aussie Open (l. Djokovic). The 25-year-old has reached the quarterfinals of Miami, Madrid, Rome and Montreal ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments. Last week in Cincinnati Tomas had to retire after losing the first set against Djokovic due to a shoulder injury. Berdych is causing danger to all the seeded players in the draw at Flushing Meadow.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga: The Frenchman didn’t have much luck at the Masters series tournaments at the start of the year. His best result at an ATP Tour level event this year was at Queens where he lost to the Mighty Murray in the final. The World No. 11 battled through to the semis of Wimbledon where he got knocked out by Djokovic. Tsonga had to retire in Montreal against Djokovic in the semis two weeks ago. Tsonga will be up there with the top three guys competing for the crown at the US Open.