US Open 2018: Draw preview and predictions of the Men's singles

The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis centre at the Flushing Meadows, New York is all set to host the 50th-anniversary edition of the season-ending Major, the U.S.Open 2018. Defending and three-time champion, World No 1, Rafael Nadal with a relatively favourable draw in his bag, will look to add a fourth US Open trophy to his cabinet and a $3.8 million to his riches.

But with the season handing us three different champions at the earlier three Majors, Roger Federer conquering Melbourne, Nadal winning the French Open and Novak Djokovic triumphing at Wimbledon, will we see the same trend continuing in New York? Or will Nadal do an encore? We take a dip into the Men’s Singles draw to find answers to all the questions looming on this.

While the top half of the draw looking in favour of the Spaniard Rafael Nadal, the tricky bottom half sees five-time champion, Roger Federer, finding a place in the same quarter where two-time champ Novak Djokovic is pitched in too.

Meanwhile, The second quarter of the top half is the most stacked with Stanislas Wawrinka, Grigor Dimitrov, Juan Martin Del Potro, Andy Murray, Milos Raonic and John Isner along with young guns like Borna Coric, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Fernando Verdasco all aiming to go the distance from this quarter.

In the third quarter, Alexander Zverev who yet has to make a breakthrough at the Majors is handed a treacherous terrain to scale with David Goffin, Kei Nishikori Diego Schwartzman and Marin Cilic, all who are placed in the same quarter of the draw.

---

#1 TOP HALF

FIRST QUARTER: Projected quarter-final #1 Rafael Nadal vs #5 Kevin Anderson

Defending champion, World No.1 Nadal has got a fairly easier draw. With only two top ten players Kevin Anderson (5) and Dominic Thiem (9) in this quarter, Nadal will most certainly make the semi-finals.

The top seed opens against compatriot, two-time semi-finalist in New York (2007, 2012) David Ferrer. But given Ferrer’s grim form who is on a match losing streak since the R16 in Bastad, losing back to back opening rounds in Hamburg, Toronto and Cincinnati, little can he even dream of thwarting the great Nadal in his quest for a fourth title in New York.

In the second round, the Spaniard could face either Lukas Lacko or Vasek Pospisil both of which should be a breeze. In the third round comes the real test for the Spaniard where he could potentially meet the dangerous Karen Khachanov.

Albeit the World No 27, Khachanov has a daunting task in the opener against Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas. Should he get past, another roadblock in the form of the big-serving Gilles Muller awaits the Russian in the third.

But predicting that Khachanov finds his way through this, a third-round meeting with Nadal will be the most intriguing matches to watch out for.

Worth mentioning, Karen Khachanov has had a fairly good run on the American hard courts warming up for the season-ending Major. He reached the semi-finals in Toronto where he succumbed to Nadal after a brilliant first set tussle 6(3)-7, 4-6.

Khachanov also made it to the R16 in Cincinnati before losing to Marin Cilic in three sets. But this should pose no worry to the Spaniard as Khachaov is known to falter in pressure situations with an erring backhand majority of the times. Nadal is projected to meet either Jack Sock or Kyle Edmund in the fourth round.

On the other side of this quarter are World No 9 Dominic Thiem and last year’s finalist World No.5 Kevin Anderson.

It is a known fact that Thiem hardly can cause ripples on surfaces other than clay. He also has been in a poor form with an opening round defeat in Toronto to Greek rising star Stefanos Tsitsipas and withdrawing from Cincinnati due to a viral infection.

Kevin Anderson should be the one to make it from this part of the quarter to the last eight and meet Nadal in the quarters. Looking from the other side, The South African first needs to get past the Canadian Denis Shapovalov or Sam Querry in the third round.

Going by the seeding, Anderson should have it easy till the quarterfinals where the Nadal challenge awaits the 2017 finalist.

Prediction: Rafael Nadal moves into the semis.

#2 TOP HALF

Grigor Dimitrov looks to go deep into Flushing Meadows Pic courtesy

SECOND QUARTER: Projected quarter-final #3 Juan Martin Del Potro vs #8 Grigor Dimitrov

In what is the most power-packed quarter of the draw comprising of three former champions, namely Juan Martin Del Potro (2009), Andy Murray(2012) and Stanislas Wawrinka(2016) along with Borna Coric, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Fernando Verdasco, Grigor Dimitrov and John Isner, this quarter is indeed littered with some supreme tennis action on the cards right from the start.

A tasty opening round again between Wawrinka and Grigor Dimitrov which is their second straight meeting at a Major after Wimbledon should set the ball rolling for either of the two stalwarts.

Wawrinka had got the better of Dimitrov in that R1 of Wimbledon this season with a scintillating, come from behind win after being a set down to prevail 1-6 7-6(3) 7-6(5) 6-4 over the Bulgarian.

The Swiss, who is jostling for a perfect comeback yet after his knee surgery is undoubtedly showing a marked improvement in his form.

After the opening round loss to Donald Young in Washington, Wawrinka has been on an upward trajectory making it to the R16 in Toronto and the quarter-finals in Cincinnati before going down to his countryman, the Swiss Great Roger Federer. Grigor Dimitrov, on the other hand, is not playing at his best.

He fell in the quarterfinals in Toronto and the R16 in Cincinnati land looks weary of charging against the resurging Wawrinka. Nevertheless, whoever wins, will face a third round challenge against Milos Raonic and a fourth-round meeting with the Giant serving John Isner.

The other side of this quarter has Juan Martin Del Potro who has his quarrels with the wrist that keeps bothering him. But hoping he stays fit, a third-round clash with Andy Murray seems a possibility. But the Brit knows that he has a very daunting task in his second round facing Fernando Verdasco who has all the weapons to topple a struggling Murray.

Whatever happens, Del Potro is certainly set to make the fourth round where he faces either Borna Coric or Stefanos Tsitsipas both who are next-gen players and are playing at their highest level. Greek rising star, Stefanos recently became the youngest ever to defeat four top-10 players in the same event en route to his final in Toronto. Coric, on the other hand, is coming off just an R2 finish in Toronto and Cincinnati and will have to put his best foot forward to have a chance here.

Irrespective of whoever Del Potro meets in the fourth round, he seems to be making the quarter-finals from here.

Prediction: Del Potro moves into the semis.

#3 BOTTOM HALF

2014 US Open champ Marin Cilic is all set to capture his second title in New York

THIRD QUARTER: Projected quarterfinal #4 Alexander Zverev vs #7 Marin Cilic

World No. 4 Alexander Zverev is without a hint of doubt a force to reckon with but not on The Major stages at yet.

Making just his only and single quarter-final at a Slam which came at Roland Garros this season, the German usually falters on this enormous stage.

Having three Masters 1000 titles to his resume, Zverev does have all the potential to be at the zenith of the sport. The need of the hour is to find that fine mental stability to handle pressure situations on a stage that overwhelms the best in tennis.

What was commendable of the German at the French Open this year, was how he managed to scrape through back to back five setters before losing in the quarters to Dominic Thiem.

The 21-year-old Zverev will have to move past Kei Nishikori, Gael Monfils, David Goffin or Diego Schwartzman to make it till the quarters in New York.

But with Nishikori and Schwartzman both being seasoned Major campers, the fourth seed could possibly be vulnerable to an upset if he does not control proceedings from the beginning. Going with the seeding, we could safely predict the German to make it to the last eight despite the challenges on his way.

The other end of this quarter has World No.7 from Croatia, Marin Cilic opening against Marius Copil. Cilic will have a second-round clash with a lucky loser after Pablo Cuevas who was initially projected to play him in the R2 pulls out of the Major yesterday.

He could then face either Adrian Mannarino or Frances Tiafoe in the third round. Belgium’s David Goffin who is threatening to barge in with some super form could be Cilic’s opponent in the fourth round.

Goffin’s brilliant showing at the Cincinnati Masters is a testimony to the fact that the Belgian is coming back after that unfortunate eye injury in Rotterdam and how.

But even with all these dangers, I think Marin Cilic could win his quarter-final against Alexander Zverev from this quarter.

Prediction: Marin Cilic moves into the semis.

#4 BOTTOM HALF

Roger Federer intends to put behind his quarter-final loss in New York last season to wade ahead

FOURTH QUARTER: Projected quarter-final #2 Roger Federer vs #6 Novak Djokovic

It is a bizarre situation for the second seed Roger Federer who lands in the same quarter as that of Novak Djokovic.

Just a few days back Federer was forced into submission by Djokovic in the final of the Cincinnati Masters. The World No.2 but knows his task at hands and should edge past the Serb on this voyage if he intends to amass a record sixth US Open title.

Federer who is not playing at the required level at the moment will have to bring forth his best to go deep at Flushing Meadows.

But before their projected quarter-final, both Djokovic and Federer have numerous challenges to tackle. The Swiss undoubtedly has a tougher draw than Djokovic. Federer opens against Yoshito Nishioka and can face the very unpredictable Benoit Paire in the second round. If the dangerous power packed Nick Kyrgios is at his physical and mental best, Federer will find the Australian as his third round opponent.

If at all, Federer gets past this third round, he will face either Next gen star Hyeon Chung or the feisty Fabio Fognini in the round of 16. The Italian Fognini already has won three titles this season by triumphing in Sao Paulo, Bastad and Los Cabos. The enigmatic Italian when in his groove is known to threaten the best in business.

Novak Djokovic, on the other hand, has silenced detractors with his magical comeback from injury to lift his 13th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon this year. Basking in a different kind of a confidence, the two-time US Open champion looks in complete domination mode to wade his way through the draw.

Djokovic begins his campaign for a third title at Flushing Meadows by opening against Marton Fucsovics. Tennys Sandgren or Viktor Troicki should be his second round opponents. A third round sees him lock horns with 26th seed Richard Gasquet. Either of Pablo Carreno Busta or Lucas Pouille should be the Serb’s fourth-round opponents.

With a relatively light draw, the Serb should easily cruise till the quarter-finals. If Federer has packed his ammunition well, he can pull down Djokovic to make the semis from this quarter of the bottom half.

Prediction: Roger Federer moves into the semis.

The countdown to the Final Major of this year has begun. While the action is set to begin from Monday, 27th August till the 9th of September, tennis fans will wait with bated breaths to watch who comes out on the top to lift the trophy on Arthur Ashe on the Final day of the US Open.