US Open 2014: Experts' picks for the men's draw

Roger Federer is among the favourites, but will Jo-Wilfried Tsonga turn out to be the dark horse at the 2014 US Open?

The tennis experts of Sportskeeda look ahead at the 2014 US Open by making picks for the men’s draw in four categories: dark horse, early exit, dangerous floater, and champion.

1. Dark horse

Adnan Akhtar: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was impressive in his title-winning performance in Canada, where the Frenchman beat three of the “Big Four” to capture his second Masters Series title. Despite losing early in Cincinnati, Tsonga has enough potential to replicate his 2008 Australian Open performance and maybe even go a level higher in New York.

Aditya Ramani: When he plays well, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is nearly untouchable. His power flows easily, his court coverage is excellent and his confidence is conspicuous. When he plays well, that is. Fans of the big Frenchman are only too aware of just how rapidly he can blow cold when only a few days prior he would have been in seemingly the hottest form of his life. He won in Toronto taking out Djokovic, Murray and Federer. Then lost three days later to Mikhail Youzhny. You don't get more enigmatic dark horses than this guy.

Jai Prakash: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has been in volatile form of late, but he cannot be ruled out when it comes to causing an upset or two in the latter stages of the tournament. If he can replicate the form he showed in Toronto where he beat four top 10 players, he has a definite shot at the Open.

Kapil Patwardhan: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga impressed mightily in his Toronto Masters victory which included wins against Djokovic, Murray, Dimitrov and Federer. Despite having never progressed past the last 8 in New York, Tsonga’s form indicates that he could be a real threat.

Musab Abid: Marin Cilic has been knocking on the doors of tennis’ elite for a while now, and he has been turned away at the threshold almost every single time. Is it time for him to finally come good on his promise? I wouldn’t be brave enough to put my money on it, but judging by the year he’s had so far and the draw he’s been dealt at Flushing Meadows, I wouldn’t be surprised if he made a career-defining run here either.

Roh: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga’s name comes to mind immediately here. The wily Frenchman has found his form exactly before the US Open and will be looking to extend his good run during the fortnight at Flushing Meadows.

SivaramL: After the show he put up in Toronto, it is difficult to look beyond Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for someone who can trouble the top 8 seeds. He doesn't have a favourable draw with his potential match-ups with Andy Murray and then Novak Djokovic but if he needs inspiration, he only needs to go back two weeks in time and look for his own exploits.

2. Early exit

Adnan Akhtar: Tomas Berdych would be my pick for the early exit at the US Open. The highest ranked Czech player has faltered at the US Open series tournaments, bowing out early to the likes of Yen-Hsun Lu and Vasek Pospisil. To make matters worse he would face former world number 1 Lleyton Hewitt in the opening round.

Aditya Ramani: Apart from a semifinal appearance here in New York, back in 2012, Tomas Berdych's not had a great time at the tournament. And if his current form is anything to go by, then it doesn't look like he'll be having much to cheer this year either. An exit as early as first round against Hewitt, and if not then definitely in round 4 against Feliciano Lopez, seems on the cards.

Jai Prakash: Ernests Gulbis hasn’t had a great hardcourt season, having failed to reach the third round in both Toronto and Cincinnati. He is unpredictable after what happened at Roland Garros this year, but I wouldn’t bet on him going deep at Flushing Meadows.

Kapil Patwardhan: After withdrawing from Toronto and Cincinnati, Kei Nishikori’s preparation for the US Open has gone for a toss. He was also knocked out in the first round at last year’s US Open, and there is every reason to believe that it will be a repeat this time around.

Musab Abid: Stan Wawrinka has been spinning his wheels for a while now; after his stupendous start to the season, where he won the Australian Open and the Monte Carlo Masters, the Swiss has barely made an impression on the tour. He reached the semifinals here last year where he gave Novak Djokovic all he could handle, but I expect him to lose before that stage this time (he’s been slated to meet Djokovic in the semis again). Wawrinka’s draw doesn’t help; he opens against talented youngster Jiri Vesely, and after that faces a string of tough opponents who are all capable of sending him packing.

Roh: Kei Nishikori has been troubled by injuries and illnesses and as such his advancement at the US Open looks under tremendous doubt.

SivaramL: Given the liberty to choose any one from the top 16, there are quite a few options. Richard Gasquet may have rough outings with Denis Istomin first and Gael Monfils later, but with semifinal points to defend, I think he might pull those off. So I am going with Tomas Berdych, whose form seems to be aptly in contrast with the flowery designs on his outfits! If Hewitt can take out a giant like Juan Martin del Potro on these courts, he can surely make life difficult for Tomas too.

3. Dangerous floater

Adnan Akhtar: Vasek Pospisil would be my choice for the dangerous floater. The Canadian reached the final in Washington DC and gave Roger Federer a run for his money in Cincinnati. He could certainly take out some seeded players at the US Open.

Aditya Ramani: At No. 52 in the world, Jerzy Janowicz finds himself in the random lots of the Grand Slam and may have to potentially face several seeded players in succession if he goes deeper into the tournament. He does, however, possess the game to give the seeds a run for their money. He's beaten at least two players ranked higher than him this week in Winston-Salem, and will be the person to be wary of in New York.

Jai Prakash: The veteran Radek Stepanek has been employing the serve and volley technique to good effect and is not afraid to come to the net thanks to his exploits in doubles. It took Djokovic four tight sets to get rid of the Czech at Wimbledon.

Kapil Patwardhan: Nick Kyrgios came to fame after defeating Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon this year. The eccentric server was easily beaten by Murray in Toronto and will look to find his Wimbledon form to excel at Flushing Meadows.

Musab Abid: Lleyton Hewitt is unseeded, which means he’s all set to give nightmares to his higher-ranked opponents once again. His unfortunate first round opponent this time is Tomas Berdych, who has been in something of a slump lately. We may well have our first big upset on the very first day of the tournament.

Roh: Belgium’s David Goffin had an unbeaten streak extending to 26 matches since his first round loss at Wimbledon. Peaking at the most opportune moment, he could cause some severe trouble in the last quarter of the draw.

SivaramL: Jerzy Janowicz has a point to prove after the kind of season he has had. His win yesterday in Winston-Salem to break David Goffin's (who is another floater candidate) winning streak is not to be discounted, and if he can get the title there, it will make him a huge threat at the US Open.

4. Champion

Adnan Akhtar: After a below-par 2013, Roger Federer seems to have gained a second wind. The Swiss maestro has reached four consecutive finals and looks in red-hot form to win Grand Slam number 18 at Flushing Meadows.

Aditya Ramani: Novak Djokovic...No Roger Federer... Djokovic may have had a poor run leading up to the tournament but on hardcourts he is the man to beat... But Federer is the only one of the Fab 4 who still has his mojo and his recent form is impeccable... But Djokovic can work his way into form and if the two are to clash then it's obvious who would win.

The eternal conflict between the heart and the brain. I'll exult if Federer wins. But right now, I'll go with my brain and say Djokovic.

Jai Prakash: He was not impressive in either Toronto or Cincinnati, where he lost to Tsonga and Robredo respectively, but Novak Djokovic certainly rises to the big occasion. He is aiming to win his second US Open title and has reached the finals in the last four years. Even though he has been presented with a tough draw this year, I expect him to go all the way!

Kapil Patwardhan: Roger Federer seems to be playing at the same level when he was 23 years old. The Swiss champion has shown great form of late by winning the Cincinnati Masters. Without Rafael Nadal in contention and poor form hitting both Murray and Djokovic, Federer looks destined for an 18th Grand Slam title.

Musab Abid: If Roger Federer gets to face anyone other than Novak Djokovic in the final, I’d have no hesitation in picking the Swiss for the title. But betting against Djokovic reaching a Slam final has proved to be a bit of an unqualified crime lately; the Serb has reached 10 in the last 13 Majors. And if it is indeed going to be a face-off between Federer and Djokovic, we all know who will have the upper hand (based on the recent patterns of their rivalry). So yes, despite Djokovic's indifferent recent form and Federer’s stupendous run of late, I’m still picking the World No. 1 for the title.

Roh: Making it to three finals in a row – Wimbledon, Toronto and Cincinnati – and winning one of them, Roger Federer has powered his way back to winning ways. At Flushing Meadows, he will start as the favourite unlike the previous years, where he remained obscured by his peers.

SivaramL: In spite of all the 'tough draw' and 'poor form' observations, I still feel Novak Djokovic will be the man to beat in the season's last Slam, just like I thought he would be at Wimbledon. Inasmuch as I would like to see Federer go for the magical 18th, I don't see him towering over Novak in a tough tussle, if previous long encounters between the two at Arthur Ashe and everywhere else are anything to go by.