US Open Favourite

With Nadal's incredible form this year, suddenly the US Open seems to be pretty open, or at least more open than you would have thought it would be if you considered it at the start of the year.

With Murray excelling in the last 12 months, Djokovic still performing so well in the Slams, Del Potro finding the sort of form that he won the 2009 US Open and Federer still around (admittedly on the decline), this US Open could be the most competitive Grand Slam in a while.

Personally, I believe Nadal is the slight favourite going in. He has won 4 master series in a row, 5 in the year and a Slam, with 3 coming on hard courts. As well as proving he can perform and is on scorching form on this surface, by beating Djokovic twice this year, Federer 3 times as well as Del Potro in Indian Wells and a host of other top 10 players this year.

Djokovic, having a good but not great season so far, has seemed like he's had something missing this year. Since winning the Australian open he's only won one masters series and a ATP 500 tournament and has had some uncharacteristically poor results on the 4 hard court tournaments following the Australian Open. However, Djokovic has won 4 out of the 6 past hard court grand slams, so he can't be written off.

Murray has come on leaps and bounds in the past 12 months at the Slams and is the current US Open holder, but he has had a poor North American hard court season so far. Furthermore, interestingly Murray's recent improvement has come in the absence of Nadal, through him being injured and going out early in Wimbledon. Nadal has been the one player Murray has had major problems with so it will be an interesting sub-plot to see how Murray will get on with Rafa at a slam again, if they meet each other.

Federer, IMO, seems to be declining at a increasing rate and with his seeding of 7 I'm not sure he'll be able to beat 2 or 3 (depending on the draw) of Del Potro/Berdych, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray. However, Federer may see this as his last major chance to win a Slam so could surprise everyone!

Then there's Del Potro, who has impressed me this year with some impressive performances, notably his runs to the Indian Wells final and to the Wimbledon semis where he was very unlucky to lost to Djokovic. I believe outside of Nadal, Murray and Djokovic, Del Potro poses the biggest threat.

Then you have Berdych, who is always a threat if on form on hard courts, and Ferrer, Raonic and isner who may make runs to the semis.


Whether you agree with me or not on the favourite I'm sure you can't wait for the US Open to start!