Some believe that the 256 players in the women’s and men’s tables at the US Open all start the competition “on the same footing” because of the long hiatus imposed by the pandemic. However, it is difficult not to consider the strengths of a few favorites.
Posted on August 30, 2020 at 9:00 a.m.
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MEN
1. Novak Djokovic
Serbian, 33 years old, 1is global
17 Grand Slam titles
United States 2019: 4e round (forfeit against Stanislas Wawrinka)
Australia 2020: Champion
Australian Open champion, Djokovic intends to take advantage of the absence of his two great rivals, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, to approach them in the classification of Grand Slam titles with what would be his 18th.e. However, more than ever he is “the man to beat” and will come under a lot of pressure.
2. Daniil Medvedev
PHOTO FRANK FRANKLIN II, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Daniil Medvedev
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Russian, 24 years old, 5e global
USA 2019: finalist (loss to Rafael Nadal)
Australia 2020: 4e tour
Medvedev probably would have won the US Open last year if he hadn’t come up against Rafael Nadal in the final. Very comfortable on fast surfaces like that of the National Tennis Center, he is well placed to benefit from the Spaniard’s absence this year.
3. Stéfanos Tsitsipás
PHOTO FRANK FRANKLIN II, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Stéfanos Tsitsipás
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Greek, 22 years old, 6e global
USA 2019: first round (loss to Andrey Rublev)
Australia 2020: 3e tour
Despite losing in the first round at the US Open last year, Stéfanos Tsitsipás reached the third round at the Australian Open in 2020 and has just excelled at the Western & Southern tournament. His recent hard performance makes him a serious contender for the title.
4. Matteo Berrettini
PHOTO HANNIBAL HANSCHKE, ARCHIVES REUTERS
Matteo Berrettini
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Italian, 24 years old, 8e global
USA 2019: semi-finalist (loss to Rafael Nadal)
Australia 2020: 2e tour
The revelation of the 2019 season, Berrettini lost in the second round of the Australian Open and was quickly eliminated last week at the Western & Southern tournament. A little “under the radar”, he still has the assets to cause surprises and repeat his feat of last year when he reached the semi-finals.
5. Roberto Bautista Agut
PHOTO ROBERT DEUTSCH, ARCHIVES USA TODAY SPORTS
Roberto Bautista Agut
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Spanish, 32 years old, 12e global
USA 2019: 1st round (loss to Mikhail Kukushkin)
Australia 2020: 3e tour
Already very sharp, as we saw at the Western & Southern tournament, the Spaniard had done very well at the start of the season with good performances in the ATP Cup and a third round in Australia where he had failed. inclined only after a long five-round marathon against Marin Čilić. His resilience will be an asset this year in New York.
WOMEN
1. Serena Williams
PHOTO ROBERT DEUTSCH, USA TODAY SPORTS
Serena Williams
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American, 38, 9e global
23 Grand Slam titles
USA 2019: finalist (lost to Bianca Andreescu)
Australia 2020: 3e tour
A six-time US Open winner, Williams has lost the last two finals. Exit at 3e turn to Australia in January, his return to the game has been laborious for three weeks, with uneven performance, even in victory. She has always stood out in New York, but may miss the public … or not!
2. Sofia Kenin
PHOTO HANNAH MCKAY, ARCHIVES REUTERS
Sofia Kenin
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American, 21, 4e global
USA 2019: 3rd round (loss to Madison Keys)
Australia 2020: champion
At 21, it is the player who goes up. Champion of the Australian Open, she rose to fourth in the world. Eliminated in the third round in New York last year, she now has the assets to do much better. However, it will be the first time that she has the status of favorite in Grand Slam; will she be able to control her nerves?
3. Naomi Osaka
PHOTO FRANK FRANKLIN II, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Naomi Osaka
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Japanese, 22 years old, 10e global
United States 2019: 4e round (loss to Belinda Bencic)
Australia 2020: 3e tour
Champion in New York in 2018, after defeating Serena Williams in a very eventful final, Naomi Osaka has since acquired an assurance that makes her the highest paid female athlete in the world. She assumes her status with aplomb, as she has shown over the past few days, and will be particularly motivated.
4. Karolina Pliskova
PHOTO FRANK FRANKLIN II, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Karolina Pliskova
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Czech, 28 years old, 3e global
United States 2019: 4e round (loss to Johanna Konta)
Australia 2020: 3e tour
In the absence of many players, the world’s third racquet will be seeded nO 1 of the Internationals, a tournament where she reached the fourth round last year. Defeated in the second round at the Western & Southern tournament, Plíšková enjoys an advantageous table and could eventually win his first Grand Slam title.
5. Johanna Konta
PHOTO FRANK FRANKLIN II, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Johanna Konta
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British, 29, 15e global
USA 2019: quarter-final (loss to Elina Svitolina)
Australia 2020: 1is tour
Often competitive in Grand Slam (a semi-final and two quarter-finals in 2019), Konta has just shown (at the Western & Southern tournament) that she is well prepared for the resumption of the game. At 29, she is one of the experienced players who could best cope with the special conditions this year in New York.
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