US Open Tennis 2016: Early Predictions, Top Players to Watch at Flushing Meadows

The U.S. Open begins on Monday in New York, with some of the world’s top tennis stars looking to add the last major of the year to their lists of accolades. 

With defending champion and world No. 1 Novak Djokovic suffering a shock defeat in the third round of Wimbledon, the towering Serb will be looking to cap an otherwise memorable year with a Grand Slam victory at Flushing Meadows.

Serbian tennis star Ana Ivanovic is nearly ready, according to her Twitter account:

Calm before the storm! It’s almost the @usopen time! #InTraining pic.twitter.com/zVkZRYW4Wb

— Ana Ivanovic (@AnaIvanovic) August 24, 2016

However, Djokovic will have his work cut out with Andy Murray, who is fresh from picking up gold in the men’s singles at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and is going for his second U.S. Open title.

The absence of five-time winner Roger Federer, who is ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury, means Djokovic and the British contender are the hot favourites.

The women’s singles will also be fiercely contested. Serena Williams, who was on the cusp of a 22nd major title at the Grand Slam in 2015, bowed out in the semi-finals to heavy underdog Roberta Vinci. She will be looking to make amends this time around. However, a host of other players will also be hoping to make an impression.

Players to Watch

Juan Martin del Potro

Argentinian Juan Martin del Potro is the unseeded player all seeded players will be hoping to avoid.

The 27-year-old is in fine form, picking up the Olympic silver in Rio earlier in August, beating Djokovic and Rafael Nadal on the way before losing to Murray in the final.

Del Potro, whose stock has sunk considerably since his 2009 U.S. Open triumph, is looking to put his injury woes behind him.

He tweeted the Olympics was the most incredible week of his life:

Así terminó la semana más increíble de mi vida. #Gracias ❤️?? pic.twitter.com/XwEJhSS8ny

— Juan M. del Potro (@delpotrojuan) August 15, 2016

The 6’6″ player is ranked 141st in the world, owing to a number of injuries he has suffered in his wrists. Since winning the U.S. Open seven years ago, he has had a total of four surgeries on his wrists, according to …

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