(CNN) — Has Roger Federer recovered by his Wimbledon hangover? Could Serena Williams conquer injury to clinch a singles major?
Even the US Open, the year’s final and fourth major, begins August 26 in Flushing Meadows in New York. An album prize money pot of over $57 million is currently up for grabs at the 139th version of the Open, including $3.9 million for each singles champion. Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Naomi Osaka of Japan are the champions.
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Can Serena grab Court?
A winner in New York knows what is needed to triumph on home soil. Having taken New York by storm when she beat Martina Hingis of Switzerland to win what is the first of an Open-era album haul of 23 grand slam singles titles, Williams is currently chasing history once again. Victory at New York could tie the former top-ranked American with Australia’s Margaret Court.
Even the No. 8 Williams comes with a difficult draw this season, starting against former US Open winner Maria Sharapova in a blockbuster initial round. Williams owns a commanding 19-3 record over Russia’s former world No.1, that last defeat her in 2004. While the top-seeded Osaka could be her opponent in the finals, roland-Garros winner Ash Barty looms in the quarterfinals.
Although the 37-year-old Williams has reached three finals since coming back from maternity leave annually, she dropped at Wimbledon, and at a year’s US Open, where Osaka and a row using all the umpire got the best of her. Having fought with a knee injury Williams retired against Canadian Bianca Andreescu final in tears by the Toronto with back spasms before this month. However, if she is fully fit, there’s absolutely not any explanation as to why she couldn’t go all of the way this time.
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Will Federer rebound back?
A day after losing an epic Wimbledon last Federer travelled caravanning with his loved ones. Having held two match points on serve in the final group, the Swiss stated he was”half-broken” in the four-hour, 57-minute game, but he went on the caravan break after his four kids begged him to proceed. “I slept in a caravan the afternoon after my Wimbledon final,” Federer told that the Tennis Channel earlier this month in Cincinnati. “This was a difficult first few steps down the ladder in the mattress. Plus it was a terrible night’s sleep. However, the children needed to do it so, so badly, so we went”
Despite suffering his reduction since 2003 where he had been defeated by Russian qualifier Andrey Rublev 6-3 6-4 in just 62 minutes, Federer was not too concerned about his US Open campaign. “I played with 45 games this season, so I think I must be fine,” Federer told reporters.
Although he won five straight US Open championships between 2008 and 2004, he has not won it. A runner-up to Djokovic at 2015, he hasn’t gone past the quarterfinals since then. Having turned 38 this month, Federer are also eager to perform better than last year, when he dropped to Australia’s John Millman at the fourth round in conditions.
Would face 15th seed David Goffin in round four, followed closely closely by former finalist Kei Nishikori of Japan in the quarterfinals. After both men were drawn in the upper half of New York on Thursday Still another showdown using Djokovic looms from the semifinals.
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Can Djokovic get to slam No. 17?
Since the winner of four of the past five majors, who is currently going to stop defending winner Djokovic at New York? The 32-year-old is the favorite to win his fourth title at Flushing Meadows, followed by Spain’s Nadal in 4-1 and Federer at 13-2. Having conquered Federer and also a crowd Djokovic is back on his successful surface. Another important win would move him to three supporting Federer, just one shy of Nadal, along with 17 grand slam singles titles.
Djokovic begins his US Open quest against Roberto Carballes Baena of Spain, followed with a clash with 2016 champion prior finalist Kevin Anderson of South Africa in the fourth round or Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland.
Perhaps the only player would be that the Nadal, who won the title this season. Even the second-ranked Spaniard is matched again following an 2018, when his season ended at the US Open semifinals with a retirement from Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina. While former winner Marin Cilic of Croatia is a possible fourth-round competition, he performs his first match against Millman.
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Can the”Next Gen” strike at last?
It’s a question that is asked every time a big comes along: is this the time the next creation will break the stranglehold of the”Big Three” in the men’s match? Nadal djokovic and Federer have won a combined 54 grand slam singles titles.
The most successful player of this so-called”Next Gen” from the majors is that the 21-year-old Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, who attained his first important semi-final at this year’s Australian Open. Watch out to 23-year-old Daniil Medvedev, who reached three straight hardcourt finals winning the title in Cincinnati. The fifth-ranked Russian might meet Djokovic from the quarterfinals and passes the Open using a 44 wins this year. This year the Serb has been defeated by him double.
Can we see the winner of another surprise women?
While young players are struggling to break through in men’s tennis, the specific opposite is occurring in the women’s game, where 18 players won the 18 names of the season. Require Australia’s and Osaka Barty, who hadn’t even gone past the fourth round of a significant a year ago. Although Barty triumphed at Roland-Garros osaka currently holds the US Open and Australian Open titles. After the stunning Wimbledon win of Romania’s Simona Halep, that dominated name preferred Williams in straight sets, would we be in for another surprise champion at the united states Open?
With question marks over the fitness of Williams and Osaka, who retired by the Cincinnati quarterfinals with a knee injury, could be the season of Cincinnati winner and 2017 US Open finalist Madison Keys of the US, or Toronto and also Indian Wells winner Andreescu? Or will 15-year-old American Cori”Coco” Gauff pull off another stunning streak after reaching the fourth round of Wimbledon?
She is back on her favorite surface, Though Osaka has struggled in the majors as Australia. The top seed of the women begins against Anna Blinkova of all Russia, and may confront Gauff in round three. Halep opens from a qualifier, although Andreescu is a possible fourth-round competitor.
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