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The final Grand Slam of the year is about to begin and once again it is going to be an interesting battle between the Big 3. After winning the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year, Novak Djokovic will be aiming to end the season on a high.
Roger Federer, who has looked a different player altogether after making a comeback from an injury in 2017, will surely be amongst the favourites. Federer’s win against Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals of Wimbledon this year shows the hunger of a man who is still a dominant figure in tennis circles.
Federer also won the Halle Open in June. On the other hand, Rafael Nadal, who last won the US Open in 2017, will be aiming to put his 2018 US Open semi-final disappointment behind him. The Spaniard had to retire in that game against Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro due to an injury.
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Andy Murray will not be participating in the singles event due to hip surgery. The Scot had stated that he wants to revive his singles career which is why he will skip the tournament. Apart from these players, there are some fine talents who are slowly emerging as the future stars of the tennis fraternity.
These players are trying to establish themselves on the big stage and have got the quality to challenge the big guns. This year’s US Open could be one of the most open events at Flushing Meadows as we might see a new champion.
In this particular US Open event, we might see a new generation of players who are eager to make a statement. We take a look at 5 such players who can make an impact:
#1 Dominic Thiem
Dominic Thiem is considered to be the next shining star in tennis circles. The 25-year-old produced some decent performances last year by winning the Lyon Open in May and finished runner-up at the Madrid Open in the same month, losing to Alexander Zverev in the final.
The Austrian also finished runner-up to Rafael Nadal in the French Open last year. He won the Argentina Open in February last year by beating Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia in the final with a 6-2, 6-4 scoreline.
He also won the St. Petersburg Open in Russia in September by beating Martin Klizan of Slovakia with a 6-3, 6-1 scoreline. Thiem brought that form this year to the Indian Wells Masters and the Barcelona Open where he triumphed. Thiem's destructive forehands combined with his solid groundstrokes can trouble any opponent. Thiem won the Austrian Open in July as well.
Thiem's baseline game is quite precise. His quick groundstrokes have outdone many opponents, while his topspins are quite effective during the run of play. Thiem’s calmness helps him during pressure situations, which the Austrian has said helps him focus whenever he plays a tricky opponent. His single-handed backhands have always been his main strength.
#2 Alexander Zverev
Alexander Zverev has long been touted as the next big thing in the tennis circuit like Dominic Thiem, but the German hasn’t quite lived up to his billing. Many think that maybe the German needs some more time to develop the temperament one needs to excel in Grand Slams, especially in knockout rounds when the German tends to get a bit nervous.
Zverev also happens to get a bit erratic during pressure situations. Zverev had stated that playing in Grand Slam events prepares him for challenging situations. The 22-year-old won the Madrid Masters in May last year by beating Dominic Thiem in the final and was a runner up at the Miami Masters and the Rome Masters in March and May respectively.
Zverev also won the Bavarian International Tennis Championship in April last year. His solid baseline game has, at times, outfoxed his opponents. He also won the Washington Open in July by beating Australia’s Alex De Minaur in the final. He even made it to the final of the Vienna Open in the doubles category along with his brother Mischa Zverev in October last year. Zverev won the Geneva Open in May this year and also made it to the final of the Mexican Open in February in the doubles event alongside his brother.
Zverev’s backhand strokes are considered to be his main strength and it is an area where the German can be a big threat for his rivals. Zverev also won the World Tour Finals in November last year which was one of his sweetest wins.
#3 Stefanos Tsitsipas
Stefanos Tsitsipas is the torch-bearer for Greek tennis and is a player to watch out for. The 21-year-old has caught everyone’s eye with some fine performances that can surprise the heavyweights of the game.
Tsitsipas can play long rallies and his deceptive moves can trouble his opponents during the run of play. Tsitsipas made it to the final of the Madrid Open where he lost to Novak Djokovic. He also made it to the semi-finals of the Rome Masters losing to Rafael Nadal.
Besides, Tsitsipas made it to the Australian Open semi-finals this year by beating Roger Federer in the quarter-finals. Stefanos Tsitsipas is another player who has a vast amount of talent to achieve superstar status in the tennis circuit.
The Greek is also known for his accurate baseline game and superb forehands. Tsitsipas is equally good at playing long rallies but tends to get erratic while playing against top-ranked players. He finished runner-up at the Barcelona Open last year in April and the Canadian Open in August - two results with which he announced himself.
Though Tsitsipas has shown lots of promise, it is imperative that he develops the temperament to play against some top-ranked players, otherwise a Major title will forever elude him.
#4 Marin Cilic
Marin Cilic is another player who hasn’t done justice to his talent. The Croatian was the runner-up at the 2017 Wimbledon Championships in which the 30-year-old lost his way in the final because of an injury. Marin Cilic was a runner-up at the Australian Open last year, losing to Roger Federer in the final.
Cilic also won the Queens Club Championships before last year’s Wimbledon tournament. Five years after putting up a stunning performance at the Flushing Meadows that gave him his only Major title till date, the 2014 US Open champion has stated that doing well in the upcoming US Open is one of his top priorities that will motivate him to finish the season on a high.
Cilic was also a part of the Croatian team that won the Davis Cup by beating France 3-1 in the final last year. His sublime shots have always unsettled his opponents combined with his powerful groundstrokes.
He is adept at executing some exceptional dropshots in addition to his power play. The lanky Croat can also cover a lot of ground with his reach and quick moves.
#5 Daniil Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev is touted to be another superstar in the making in the tennis circles. Medvedev won the Sydney International in January last year by beating local player Alex De Minaur in the final. He won the Japan Open last year in October by getting the better of Kei Nishikori in the final.
The 23-year-old is quite good with his deceptive dropshots and can be a tricky player to deal with at the net. The Russian has also shown his sharpness through his array of groundstrokes. However, there is room to improve on his serves and doing that can help him go a long way.
His destructive two-handed backhands can outclass any opponent especially on grass and hardcourts. The young Russian has been the most consistent and in-form player in the US Open Series this year, demonstrating his immense talent. He reached the final at Washington where he lost to Nick Kyrgios and followed it up with a runner-up finish to Rafael Nadal at Montreal before finally tasting glory at the Cincinnati Masters where the World No. 1 Novak Djokovic was one of his victims.
