THE NEW YORK crowds will be back at Flushing Meadow as some of the biggest names in tennis take to the courts next week.
Can Djokovic seal a landmark victory? Will the next generation step up at last? Will Naomi Osaka return to winning ways?
Tennis writer Andy Schooler looks at the main talking points ahead of the 2021 US Open.
Djokovic: The Grand Slam chaser
The coming fortnight could go a long way to settling the age-old ‘greatest of all time’ debate in tennis.
Victory for Novak Djokovic at the US Open would not only see him claim a record 21st Grand Slam singles title – one more than Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal – but also complete the calendar-year Grand Slam, a feat not achieved in the men’s game since 1969 when Rod Laver won all four major tournaments.
But the history chase brings pressure – who can forget Serena Williams’ nerve-fuelled failure to claim the Slam in 2015? – while there’s a good argument to suggest Djokovic is coming in undercooked.
He’s not played since the Olympics, an event he left with a shoulder injury.
A fit and firing Djokovic will win here but frankly there are enough doubts to ignore odds-on quotes.
Instead, Daniil Medvedev looks a decent bet – the world number two is in good form and has gone close in New York before.
William Hill odds: Daniil Medvedev to win the US Open – 4/1
Who’s next to step up?
When the ATP introduced their ‘Next Gen’ marketing ploy in 2016, it’s fair to say they probably expected the ‘Big Four’ era of dominance to have ended by now.
However, what was once the next generation largely remains so – the likes of Medvedev, Alex Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas are all still without a Grand Slam title.
Zverev is the one to which many are looking following his wins at the Olympics and in Cincinnati. He made the final here last year but lost from two sets up to continue a disappointing Grand Slam record.
Tsitsipas arrives having narrowly lost semi-finals in both Toronto and Cincinnati but the slick Laykold courts may be a tad fast for the Greek.
That shouldn’t be so much of a worry for Medvedev, the champion in Toronto who looked well on course for victory in Cincinnati too until colliding with a TV camera.
He’s another a former finalist here, while he also made the title match at this year’s Australian Open.
The fast courts should aid those with strong serves, who are prepared to come forward and attack, so maybe an outsider like Ugo Humbert could go well.
The 23-year-old has beaten both Tsitsipas and Zverev this season, one which has seen him win on the Halle grass.
The Frenchman’s form isn’t the greatest but he has a decent draw which he could use to play himself into the tournament.
William Hill odds: Ugo Humbert each way in the US Open – 250/1
Is Osaka ready for title defence?
Naomi Osaka will attempt to defend her women’s title but hardly looks in the best position to do so.
Having revealed how she has suffered from depression and anxiety, she took a break from tennis earlier this summer.
The poster girl of the Olympics did return in Tokyo but when the Japanese star moved back onto the WTA circuit in Cincinnati, she broke down in tears at a press conference.
On court, she lost in the last 16 of the Olympics to Marketa Vondrousova, while in Cincinnati it was Jil Teichmann who beat her at the same stage.
There are plenty of other big names struggling for fitness and form so the best alternative to Osaka may well be Wimbledon champion, Ash Barty.
The world number one should enjoy these conditions and played well in Cincinnati where she claimed the title.
William Hill odds: Ash Barty to win the US Open – 7/2
Look who’s back
Last year there were no fans at the US Open; this year close to 24,000 people will attend each singles final.
This will be the first Grand Slam tournament since the COVID-19 pandemic began to feature crowds at full capacity – and some players will like that more than others.
Benoit Paire is an example of someone who hated playing in front of empty stands, while Tsitsipas is another who admitted struggling to adapt to ‘bubble life’.
Both are capable of getting fans behind them with their on-court demeanour but another I feel could ride the wave of crowd support is Angelique Kerber.
New Yorkers love a winner and, as a former champion, she’ll have plenty of fans behind her.
The German’s form is excellent with her title in Bad Homburg followed by a run to the Wimbledon semis. Back on the hardcourts, Kerber duly made last four in Cincinnati.
Basically she’s lost two of her last 16 matches and both were against the world number one, Barty.
William Hill odds: Angelique Kerber each way at the US Open – 33/1
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