US Open 2018: The four main contenders for the title at Flushing Meadows

Roger Federer

Federer's last win at Flushing Meadows back in 2008

One can never overlook the Swiss maestro when drawing up a shortlist of possible champions. 2018 started off in tremendous fashion for the 37-year-old, as he retained the Australian Open for the first time since 2007.

Federer followed up his win in Australia, by securing his 97th career title in Rotterdam, which also saw him return to world No.1, after nearly a six-year absence. However, a failure to retain either one of his titles from Indian Wells and Miami last year meant a return to the No.2 spot for Roger.

The victory at the Stuttgart Open followed by a run to the final at Halle looked to have set Federer's season back on track. A shock loss, however, in the quarter-final of Wimbledon quickly put a halt to his progress.

The Swiss star will also have to banish any demons from his previous tournaments at Flushing Meadows, with several moments of heartbreak and many near misses along the way. In 2010 and 2011, lightning did indeed strike the same place twice, as Federer squandered match points and lost the two semi-finals on both occasions. Novak Djokovic was his opponent in both matches, as he denied Roger the chance to play for a sixth US Open title.

In 2015, the tables looked to have turned, as Roger made the final after an emphatic straight-sets win over compatriot Stan Wawrinka. The Swiss maestro came unstuck in the final, as he failed to make Djokovic pay, converting only four out of the twenty-three break-point opportunities. The Serb came out on top once again and left Federer rueing all those break-point chances that came and went. The 37-year-old can defy the odds like no other and cannot be counted out, especially after his mesmerizing campaign in 2017.