US Open preview: Will Djokovic continue his amazing run in 2020?

The 2020 US Open takes place in New York from 31^st August-13^th September at Flushing Meadows.

For the first time in history, the US Open won’t be the final Grand Slam of the season. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the tennis calendar has had a reshuffle.

The last major to be held in 2020 was back in January when Novak Djokovic and Sofia Kenin were crowned champions.

This of course will not be the US Open as we know it with no spectators, and matches taking place in empty stadiums.

The size of the players entourage will also be limited along with strict social distancing measures in place. The players will be tested for Covid-19 and will be required to withdraw from the event if they test positive.

This year’s US Open will be missing a host of players including defending champions Rafael Nadal and Bianca Andresscu who have both withdrawn. Roger Federer is another big name not present although this is down to injury.

Six of the WTA’s top ten players including Ashleigh Barty and Simona Halep have decided not to travel.

However, for a British point of view it is rewarding to see Andy Murray allowed a wild card for the event. The Brit recently exited at the second-round stage of the Cincinnati Masters to Milos Raonic.

In the ladies event, Kim Clijsters has been given a wildcard, with American favourite Serena Williams also in the field.

In the mens event, no man has won back to back titles in New York since Federer won the last of his five straight trophies in 2008.

Despite weeks of speculation, Djokovic announced a little while ago that he would definitely play in the US Open. In 2020 so far, the Serbian is unbeaten having won 21 consecutive matches, and is clearly the man to beat.

The Serb hasn’t always performed well at Flushing Meadow, with just a mere three titles, compared to eight at Melbourne. Djokovic has also finished second best in Flushing Meadow no less than five times. Last year he was forced to retire in his match against Stan Wawrinka due to injury.

Without Nadal, Federer and 2016 champion Wawrinka the mens event is considerably weaker and leaves the way clear for Djokovic to enjoy another successful time in New York.

Amongst players who could well be involved in the shake up come the second week is the 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic. However, he had a poor 2019 and has slipped right down the rankings.

Last seasons finalist Russian Daniil Medvedev, who pushed Nadal all the way in the final, comes in for serious consideration. Last year on hard courts he went on an incredible run which saw him reach six consecutive finals. If he can continue in that run of form he could prosper.

Dominic Thiem of Austria is surely knocking on the door of winning a major. Twice a finalist at the French Open, he has improved on hard courts and in January lost out to Djokovic in five sets.

Other contenders include the youngster Alexander Zverev who made his first Grand Slam semi final at the Australian Open in January. Stefanos Tsitsipas, the reigning ATP Finals champion, has been playing well in exhibitions during the shutdown.

In terms of the womens event, the US Open has seen a different woman win the tournament in the last five years.

Although Elina Svitolina, Kiki Bertens and Belinda Bencic have pulled out, the list of top players remains very strong.

None more so than Serena Williams, who currently shares the record for the most US Open titles with Chris Evert.

Since 2014, she has lost twice in the semi finals and twice in the finals. The legendry American is still on the verge of equalling Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slams.

Another leading contender has to be Naomi Osaka, who claimed her first title in Flushing Meadown in 2018. A finalist in 2017, Madison Keys normally delivers her best tennis at the majors.

Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka struggled in 2019 but is an excellent hard-court player. Having earlier this summer won the Premier title in Doha before the shutdown.

Runner up in 2016, Karolina Pliskova is another player to watch out for. The big serving Czech was also a quarter finalist in 2017-18.

21-year-old Sofia Kenin, who won her maiden major title at the Australian Open, has a superb attitude to the game. An up and coming rising star who could prosper in the next couple of weeks. Coco Gauff and Jennifer Brady are two names to keep an eye on.

Brady, has already picked up two top ten wins in the first couple of months of the truncated season, and is an up and coming player to watch out for.

For nostalgia’s sake it would be lovely to see Kim Clijsters lift the trophy. Clijsters has already won the US Open three times. The 37-year-old has come out of retirement after eight years out of competition and it would be some fairy tale story if she was to be successful.

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