 "US Open 2024: Djokovic eyes Slam record in title defence, spotlight on Sinner, Sabalenka favourite among women")
US Open, the last major of the year, gets underway on August 26 with Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff as the defending champions. It has been a daunting year for players with Olympics squeezed in between French Open and Wimbledon which necessitated jumping from clay to grass to clay and now hard courts.
With that in mind, form is hardly a factor in deciding favourites and title contenders. Carlos Alcaraz won the French Open, Wimbledon and silver medal at Olympics but suffered a meltdown in Cincinnati. Djokovic, meanwhile, has had a trophy-less year but ticked a huge box in his CV with an Olympic gold. Jannik Sinner, winner of the Australian Open, comes into the US Open with controversy over his doping test and allegations of preferential treatment.
The women’s field can be broken down into three parts. Aryna Sabalenka’s dominant start in the first, Iga Swiatek’s supremacy on clay in the second and a wild-mess in the third.
A look at the talking points going into the US Open:
Djokovic fuelled by Olympic gold and records
"I still feel the drive." - Novak Djokovic @DjokerNole | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/EdKR9GlT6n
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 24, 2024
Djokovic, fuelled by an emotional Olympic triumph, has new Grand Slam records in his sights at the US Open. The Serb can become the oldest Open era champion at the tournament if he secures a fifth title, a record he would share with Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer.
The 37-year-old would also move to 25 Grand Slam triumphs, taking him clear of the 24 he currently shares with Margaret Court.
If not for the Olympics gold medal, it has been an underwhelming year for Djokovic - he was succeeded as Australian Open champion by Sinner who also relieved him of his World No. 1 ranking. Alcaraz took his French Open title with the Spaniard sweeping Djokovic in a one-sided Wimbledon final.
However, Djokovic, returned to the clay courts of Roland Garros to stun Alcaraz in the Olympic final in what he recently called “the greatest achievement and greatest highlight of my career overall, winning the gold for Serbia.”
In the process, Djokovic became just the fifth player to complete a career Golden Slam of all four majors and Olympic gold.
The victory also silenced the increasing number of doubters who had started to write off theSerb as a spent force in a new era where Sinner, 23, and Alcaraz, 21, are steadily taking center stage.
Djokovic, who underwent surgery on his right knee in June, skipped the two Masters 1000 events that have followed so it is tough to say where he stands physically and mentally.
Sinner dealing with off-court turmoil
Building momentum 📈
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 20, 2024
Jannik Sinner wins the Cincinnati Open 🏆 pic.twitter.com/7nPwCw0ji5
If Djokovic dealt with emotions on court, Sinner is dealing with plenty off it. He arrives after an emotionally draining doping investigation , in which he escaped a lengthy ban after officials accepted his explanation that the banned substance entered his system as a result of contamination from a support team member.
The 23-year-old had twice tested positive for clostebol, a banned anabolic agent, back in March. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced this week he had been cleared of wrongdoing — a day after he won the Cincinnati Masters.
“I’m just happy that it’s finally out,” said Sinner, who fired his physiotherapist and trainer in the wake of the affair.
But his hopes for “clean air” at Flushing Meadows are likely to be dashed as players question why there was never any announcement of a provisional suspension as the investigation proceeded.
Sinner said he wouldn’t get caught up in concerns over his reputation. “This, I can’t really control,” he said. “So let’s see.”
Away from the controversy, Sinner looked good dealing with fast courts in Cincinnati where he emerged champion getting past the likes of Andrey Rublev, Alexander Zverev and Frances Tiafoe.
Alcaraz ‘okay’ despite ankle twist
Djokovic and McEnroe take a thriller 10-8 over Agassi and Alcaraz! pic.twitter.com/rkaVch0hXx
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 22, 2024
Alcaraz, who won his first major at the US Open in 2022, was badly bruised by his defeat to Djokovic in the Olympic final. And then he was physically hurt, quite literally, during the practice session on Saturday.
The Spaniard downplayed injury concerns while speaking to reporters on Media Day. “I just stop my practice just for precaution.”
“I didn’t feel comfortable enough to keep practicing just in case if everything is going to be worse. But after a few hours later, I’m still feeling good.
“Tomorrow I will try to be practicing again 100 percent without thinking about it.”
The four-time major champion may have won two Grand Slams in a row this year but felt he had “let Spain down” by not winning the Olympic gold.
He lost his composure in a second-round exit at Cincinnati and labelled it “the worst match of his life”. He struggled with fast courts and windy conditions, two things he may have to deal with at Flushing Meadows.
Sabalenka - a favourite or *the* favourite?
HAVE A DAY @SabalenkaA 👏👏👏
— wta (@WTA) August 19, 2024
Sabalenka defeats Pegula 6-3, 7-5 and captures the title in Cincinnati! #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/d3jttqwOXm
Sabalenka won the Australian Open and looked to be the player to beat. She swept players off the court with utter ease. And then, perplexingly, she won no tournaments. There were surprising upsets such as Amanda Anisimova in Toronto, Marie Bouzkova in Washington and Anhelina Kalinina in Miami. Then she skipped Wimbledon and Olympics completely.
Eventually, the fast courts of Cincinnati brought the best out of her. A three-time semi-finalist in Ohio, Sabalenka adjusted well to the pace and made the most of it. The Belarusian didn’t drop a set and beat Iga Swiatek along the way.
At the US Open, where she was the runner-up last year, she might get the same level of speed off the court, which would make her a strong title challenger.
What is up with Coco?
✨Perfectly Served✨@PutintsevaYulia defeats Gauff 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/7CNH8Bn3v2
— wta (@WTA) August 15, 2024
Last year, working alongside Brad Gilbert, Gauff went from slump to Grand Slam success in two months. There has been a reversal this time around.
Defending women’s champion Coco Gauff has had a worrying dip in form in recent weeks, raising doubts over her ability to become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2014 to successfully defend her US Open crown.
Since the abject loss at Wimbledon to compatriot Emma Navarro where she looked out of ideas and looked over to her box repeatedly for guidance, the American’s technique and mental toughness has been exposed.
She lost her composure in defeat to Donna Vekic at the Olympics; looked even worse in defeat to Diana Shnaider in Toronto and then blew a third-set lead to Yulia Putintseva in the first round in Cincinnati.
The only good thing for Gauff may be that she’s not placed on the same side of the draw as her nemesis Swiatek.
Swiatek, Rybakina the uncertainties
Iga is in the 🏠
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 21, 2024
Welcome back, @iga_swiatek! pic.twitter.com/6VTtL4DCbI
It is hard to make a case for either Swiatek or Elena Rybakina at the moment. The Pole won the bronze medal at the Olympics but given her dominance at Roland Garros and on clay, that is hardly a great result.
She then entered the Cincinnati Masters and lost to Sabalenka in the semis. Not surprisingly, she is keeping her expectations low.
“After the Olympics, it hasn’t been easy. I feel the best when I’m just focused on practicing and grinding on the court, and really focus on just making my game better and not on the results. I’m just going to try to keep that mindset and that attitude,” Swiatek said.
The 2022 US Open champion Swiatek was found out last year by the fast conditions of New York with Jelena Ostapenko’s thundering groundstrokes in the Round of 16.
“I felt I had many things to defend, like the world No. 1 position, all my points and also the title itself. I felt like I had a lot of baggage on my shoulders. This year, it’s a little bit different. This year, I’m just trying to focus on what I should do tennis-wise to play the best game possible. My expectations are not so high compared to last year,” Swiatek added.
elena rybakina is here 💪#USOpen pic.twitter.com/36huxg5hRP
— lisa hsu (@lisahsu510) August 25, 2024
What can be made of Elena Rybakina’s chances? The No. 4 seed was one of the most consistent performers on the tour in the first half of the season.
But that has changed of late as she’s missed tournaments with illnesses and missed practice sessions at the US Open. She comes into the major after splitting with longtime coach Stefano Vukov.
“Hello Everyone, after 5 years, Stefano and I are no longer working together,” she posted on Instagram. “I thank him for his work on-court and wish him all the best for the future. Thank you all for your support.”
Round 1 matches to watch:
Jack Draper vs. Zhizhen Zhang
Holger Rune vs. Brandon Nakashima
Lorenzo Musetti vs. Reilly Opelka
Ben Shelton vs. Dominic Thiem
Sofia Kenin vs. Emma Raducanu
Jessica Pegula vs. Shelby Rogers
Jelena Ostapenko vs. Naomi Osaka
Jasmine Paolini vs. Bianca Andreescu
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