It's time for the year's final Grand Slam, the US Open. Over the past decade or so, the US Open has provided plenty of surprising moments, from Juan Martin del Potro and Stan Wawrinka's brilliant victories to Kevin Anderson's run to the final in 2017.
This makes it all the more important for us to have a comprehensive look at the top performers on the American hard courts in the past.
Here, we rank the top eight players based on their performances at the US Open Series over the past three years.
#8 David Goffin
David Goffin makes it to this list solely because of his run to the final in Cincinnati just last week. Add to that quarterfinal finishes at a couple of Masters 1000 and 500 events in the US Open Series in the last three years, and he is a player who can certainly be a threat in these conditions.
#7 Karen Khachanov
The Russian Karen Khachanov is in the midst of a breakthrough season of sorts. He attained a career-best ranking earlier this year and has established himself as a regular member of the top 10 club.
Khachanov will also be brimming with confidence, considering his good performance in the lead up to the US Open this year; he had a semifinal run in Montreal and played a few good matches in Cincinnati and Washington as well.
#6 Alexander Zverev
While Alexander Zverev's record at Grand Slams fails to inspire much confidence, one can read a lot into his wins in the US Open Series in the past. In the last three years, Zverev has two ATP 500 and one Masters 1000 title here, making him one of the most successful players during this part of the season.
Whether that success translates into this year's US Open remains to be seen, but there is no denying the young German's flair on the hardcourts in this part of the world.
#5 Kevin Anderson
Kevin Anderson made the US Open final in 2017 and there is no reason why he cannot replicate that feat. He has a big game and his powerful serve and forehand can trouble even the best of players.
Apart from his sublime run at the 2017 US Open, Anderson also made a final and a couple of quarterfinals during the US Open Series. His form coming into this year's tournament might not be the best, but he can draw confidence from his previous displays during the American hardcourt season.
#4 Kei Nishikori
Kei Nishikori, much like Anderson, was a surprise finalist at the US Open. However, that was way back in 2014 and a lot has changed since then.
Luckily for the Japanese, the changes have been positive. He has surged up the rankings, won an Olympic medal, made a few big finals and grown in stature.
Nishikori will be looking for a deep run in Flushing Meadows yet again, having made it to the semifinals last year. He has looked in decent form in the warm-up tournaments and is definitely a dark horse for the title.
#3 Daniil Medvedev
Based on sheer form, Daniil Medvedev is one of the top contenders for the title. The Russian has a 14-2 record in this year's US Open Series. He has made the final of all three tournaments that he's played, winning the crown in Cincinnati.
Medvedev has done well on the American hard courts in the past as well, having won the Winston-Salem Open last year, but this time around, he will be gunning for the big one.
#2 Rafael Nadal
Three US Opens, five Rogers Cup crowns, and one Cincinnati title, need we say any more about Rafael Nadal's prowess on the American hardcourts? Nadal has maintained a healthy record on this surface recently with one of three US Open titles and two of five Rogers Cup crowns coming in the last three years.
The Spaniard will enter the tournament with nothing but the title in his mind. Another victory at Flushing Meadows will cap off another near-perfect Grand Slam season for the 18-time major winner.
#1 Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic is the defending champion, the top seed and, as has been the case in the past few years, the man to beat. His record at the US Open might not be as stellar as at the other Slams, but he is a force to reckon with nonetheless.
The Serb has played in just one tournament since Wimbledon, making it to the semifinal in Cincinnati where he lost to a surging Medvedev. However, he looks in great nick and will be keen on going all the way. When on song, Djokovic is close to unstoppable and there is little that anyone can do to stop him in his tracks.
Honorable mentions
Roger Federer can never be counted out regardless of his form coming into the tournament. Others to watch out for in the draw are former champions Stan Wawrinka and Marin Cilic, as well as John Isner, Dominic Thiem, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev, who have all also done well on the American hard courts in the past.
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