Previewing and Predicting the 2017 U.S. Open

Arpan Sharma
Aug 27, 2017 · 11 min read
Rafael Nadal is heading into his first Grand Slam since 2014 holding the number one ranking. Credit: Sky Sports

For 50 of the 52 weeks in the year, Flushing Meadows, NY is just a quiet park in New York City with plenty of walkways, amusement areas and natural beauty. However, from August 22 to September 10, the park turns into the site of the US Open. The US Open is the fourth and final Grand Slam of the tennis season, and in the eyes of many, it can be by far the most exciting. The tournament starts Sunday, yet big headlines are already dominating international publications worldwide. Ahead of the excitement, The Great Zamboni rolls into Flushing Meadows to give you a comprehensive preview (with predictions) of the men’s and women’s US Open this year.

The Big Stories: Men

We already know that Novak Djokovic is taking the year off due to injury and will miss the US open, but as of Saturday morning, three time grand slam champion, two time Olympic Gold medalist and 2012 defending champion Andy Murray has pulled out of the US Open. Yeah, that same Andy Murray who is currently ranked #2 in the world.

An emotional Andy Murray has pulled out of the US Open citing a hip injury. Credit: BBC Sport

According to Stuart Fraser of The Times, Murray stated that “It [hip] is simply too sore for me to win the tournament, and ultimately, that’s what I was here to try and do.” This is big news as Croatian 2014 champion and 2017 Wimbledon finalist Marin Cilic will take his place in the bottom half of the draw. This turn of events means German Philipp Kolschreiber will take the dubious 33rd seed for his first round match against American qualifier Tim Smyczek.

Adding on to Murray, defending champion Stanislas Wawrinka will also miss the tournament, joined by Canadian Milos Raonic.

The Contenders — Men

(1)Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal has retaken the number one spot for the first time in over three years. He described this achievement to the BBC as “a special day” in his career after missing 2 grand slams and countless months since he last held the number one ranking in June of 2014. He is coming off a disappointing fourth round Wimbledon exit in a five set epic against Gilles Muller of Luxembourg. Since then, he lost to 18-year-old Dennis Shapovalov of Canada in the Montreal masters and to Australian Nick Kyrigios in the quarter finals of the Cincinnati Masters.

Nadal celebrating winning the 2013 US Open. Credit: Bild

However, despite the losses, he comes into the tournament as the number one ranked player; watch out for the 2010 and 2013 champion, as he just might take home his 3rd US Open and his 16th overall Grand Slam. You can never doubt the King of Clay.

(3)Roger Federer

Roger Federer is having an excellent 2017. After winning just four out of a possible 32 grand slams he beat the aforementioned Nadal in a five set thriller in the Australian Open final, then swept Marin Cilic in the Wimbledon final just over one month ago.

Roger that! Federer is seeking his 20th Grand Slam and his 3rd of 2017 at the US Open. Credit: Rolex

His last match was a loss to youngster Alexander Zverev in the Cincinnati finals, but you would be a fool to look past Federer extending the grand slam record and claiming his 20th Grand Slam on the 10th of September on Arthur Ashe in front of the world.

(4)Alexander Zverev

Alexander Zverev is taking tennis by storm. The young 20-year-old from Hamburg claimed his second Masters 1000 in Montreal after beating Roger Federer in the final, 6–3, 6–4. Earlier this year, he won his first Masters 1000 in Rome, defeating Novak Djokovic 6–4, 6–3. Though he has never gone past the fourth round in a grand slam, expect Zverev to buck that trend and potentially go the distance in Flushing Meadows this year.

The Outsiders — Men

(6)Domenic Thiem

The young Austrian is currently ranked 8th in the world and made the semifinals of the 2016 and 2017 editions of the French Open. He lost to Nadal in the finals of both the Barcelona 500 Open and the Mutua Madrid Masters 1000, as well as the semis of the French Open, but proceeded to beat Nadal in the quarterfinals of the Masters 1000 in Rome. I have Thiem losing to Federer in the quarterfinals, but do not be surprised if he pushes Federer to the limit and comes out on top.

Nadal celebrates beating Thiem in straight sets in the 2017 French Open Semifinals. He would go on to claim his 16th Grand Slam title. Credit:

(7)Grigor Dimitrov

The Bulgarian, once nicknamed “Baby Fed” for his playstyle remincent of Roger Federer, certainly grew up last week as he claimed his first Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati after beating Australian Nick Kyrgios 6–3, 7–5 in the finals. Watch out for Dimitrov in Flushing Meadows as he battles in the same half as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem.

(21)David Ferrer

Does this man age? Seriously. Though I’m 18, I still remember when he ousted a 20 year old Rafael Nadal in the Round of 16 here 10 years ago, in 2007. He just recently lost 6–7, 6–7 to Nick Kyrgios in the semifinals of Cincinnati but put on a wholeheartedly impressive performance. Expect a potential Round of 16 appearance for the 35 year old Spaniard.

Potential Disappointments — Men

(15)Tomas Berdych

Don’t get me wrong, I rate Berdych, I really do. He was ousted in the semifinals of Wimbledon by Federer, 7–6, 7–6, 6–4, but he has only advanced past the Round of 16 in Flushing Meadows twice. He lost in the first round (!!!) in 2010, and he plays hard hitting Alexandr Dolgopolov in the second round, and I have him losing in a tightly contested four setter, 6–4, 4–6, 6–7, 3–6.

(8)Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

The Frenchman hasn’t quite hit the dizzying heights we all expected him to reach back when he made the finals of the Australian Open as the 32nd seed back in 2009. He has a tendency to get a little ahead of himself when leading in matches, and he has to deal with potential tricky tests in the form of (12) Pablo Carreno Busta and the always dangerous (32) Robin Haase. I have the feeling that he’ll get past both, but will lose in straight sets in a winnable match against Marin Cilic in the quarterfinals.

How will the frenchman fare in Flushing Meadows? Credit: The Guardian

Potential Big Matchups — Men

Before I start, I must remind you that the US Open is a knockout tournament, and these matchups are all hypothetical, it is a possibility that none of these matchups will happen!

(17)Sam Querrey vs. (10)John Isner

Two Americans could face off in a battle of San Francisco (Querrey) and Greensboro (Isner). Two big serving, tall Americans could deliver a treat for an American tennis crowd.

Prediction: Querrey d. Isner 7–5, 4–6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–1

(1)Rafael Nadal vs. (3)Roger Federer

The (potential) 38th edition of tennis’ greatest ever rivalry in tennis’ between two of the greatest players ever could go down in the semi finals at Flushing Meadows this year. Federer has won their last four meetings, but Nadal still holds the overall advantage, 23–14. This could be a classic semifinals matchup and the winner of this just might win the whole thing.

Prediction: Federer d. Nadal 6–2, 3–6, 7–6, 7–6

Winner - Roger Federer d. Marin Cilic 6–4, 6–4, 6–0

Federer absolutely paddled Cilic in the Wimbledon finals, and once past Nadal, with no Murray, Djokovic, Wawrinka or Raonic, only Cilic stands in Federer’s way of a 20th grand slam, and no one (except maybe Nadal) is stopping Federer from reaching 20.

Expect Roger Federer to capture Grand Slam #20 in the states. Credit: ATP World Tour

The Big Stories: Women

Maria Sharapova is back at a grand slam following a 15-month suspension from tennis related activities in a doping scandal. The US Open association granted the 30-year-old Russian a wild card and she faces a tough first match against second ranked Simona Halep of Romania.

Eugenie Bouchard (L) called Sharapova (R) a cheater after a May showdown. Credit: NY Post

The Contenders — Women

(3)Garbine Muguruza

The 2016 French Open and 2017 Wimbledon champion will certainly be looking to add her third grand slam in Flushing Meadows. Coming off a victory over second ranked Simona Halep, Muguruza comes into New York as the hot hand in women’s tennis, and I think that she has enough to win it all.

Muguruza celebrates defeating Venus Williams and winning her first Wimbledon title in July. Credit: Marca

(2)Simona Halep

The 2017 French Open finalist has never won a grand slam before, but experts and bookies alike expect her to have a grand showing at the final grand slam of the year. Her best showing at the US Open was a semi final appearance in 2015 and she is coming off a finals loss to Muguruza in Cincinnati. Halep has won only one tournament this year, beating Kristina Mladenovic 7–5, 6–7, 6–2 in the finals of Madrid earlier this year. She made the quarterfinals of Wimbledon this year, but she is hungry for glory and watch out for the Romanian in Flushing Meadows.

(1) Karolina Pliskova

Like Halep, Pliskova has never won a grand slam in her career. However, she was a finalist last year and will be looking to go one step further this year. The world number one is coming off a very disappointing second round defeat at Wimbledon and is determined to write that off as a mere outlier in her quest for glory this time around. She has won three titles this year, in Brisbane, Qatar and Eastbourne; watch out for the Czech Republic national as she quests for the first grand slam title in her career.

Watch out for the number one seed in her quest for her first grand slam title. Credit: WTA

The Outsiders

(15)Madison Keys

I’ve picked Madison Keys as the US Open tends to provide a home field advantage for American tennis players. Though seeded 15th, she is in the same half as number one seeded Pliskova and fourth seeded Svitolina. I have the home field advantage taking her all the way to the semifinals of the tournament, eventually losing to Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland.

(7)Johanna Konta

Many people seem to have written off the Brit from doing well at this tournament as she has never made it past the fourth round, but she also did make the semifinals of Wimbledon last month. Konta has her work cut out for her as she is in the same half as Muguruza and Halep, but I think she has enough about her to dispatch the heavyweights and potentially shock the competition. I have her making it to the semifinals, losing to Garbine Muguruza.

(5)Caroline Wozniacki

Caroline Wozniacki is a player who is often times way too hard to predict. Though she has made the finals in 2009 and 2014, she has never advanced past the fourth round of Wimbledon despite 11 attempts and has only ever advanced past the fourth round at Roland Garros twice, this year and in 2010. Wozniacki is in a very tough draw, featuring the likes of Halep, Muguruza and Venus Williams, but expect a strong showing nonetheless. It seems like she has been around forever, but the Dane is only 27, and I have her losing a tough quarter finals matchup to Muguruza.

Wozniacki has her work cut out for herself in a tough draw. Credit: Getty Images

Potential Disappointments — Women

(6) Angelique Kerber

After a breakout 2016 which saw her make the Wimbledon finals and win the Australian and US Opens, Kerber has had a disappointing 2017. This year she has made just won final (she lost) and her best grand slam performance has been just the Round of 16 in Melbourne and at Wimbledon.

Kerber has stuggled for form in 2017. Credit: IB Times UK

I have her losing in the Round of 16 here, to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 6–4, 6–4.

(9)Venus Williams

This might sound a little hypocritcal as I was taking earlier of an American home court advantage, and she just made the finals of Wimbledon, but I do not think Venus Williams will do well at the US Open. She could face French international Parmentier in the second round, which could be tough, and I have her losing to Caroline Wozniacki in the fourth round, 6–0, 5–7, 4–6. I know she is better than Wozniacki, but I think she’ll be under too much pressure to succeed and lose.

Potential Big Matchups — Women

(2)Simona Halep vs. Maria Sharapova

Unlike all of the predictions in this article, this is a surefire matchup as both women are slated to meet in the first round. Sharapova has not had it easy since returning to tennis in April, but she is a 5 time grand slam champion, holder of the career grand slam and champion here in 2006. Though she is ranked 148 due to her 15 month suspension, watch out for her as she will have a point to prove against Halep. However, Halep is in form, and Sharapova isn’t.
Prediction: Halep wins 6–2, 6–3

(10)Agnieszka Radwanska vs. (20)Coco Vandeweghe

Vandeweghe is going to be the certain crowd favorite in this potential third round matchup, and I think she will give Radwanska a run for her money in this one. She’s a hard hitter who will push the more defensive Radwanska futher down the court, which could potentially open up space for a killer forehand winner. However, Radwanska is a great defender, and I think she has more to her game than Vandeweghe, but expect the Pole to edge the American in a close one, 7–6, 7–6.

(17) Elena Vesnina vs. (15) Madison Keys

Vesnina and Keys are both hard hitting baseliners (potentially) facing off in the third round. Vesnina hit a career high of 13th earlier this year and comes into this tournament as the 17th seed. Her opponent is American (home court) and will no doubt be driven by a pro USA crowd in Flushing Meadows. Expect a great game for the neutrals as the home girl wins, 7–6, 4–6, 7–5.

Finals Prediction — (3)Muguruza d. (10)Radwanska, 6–4, 6–3.

Garbine Muguruza is on fire right now. Radwanska is seeded 10th but I think she has more about her game to defeat (1)Pliskova and (15)Keys enroute to the finals. Muguruza is simply too good and she’ll take home the trophy in rather easy fashion. Don’t be too surprised if she takes the number one ranking soon also.

Expect Garbiñe Muguruza to take home the 2017 US Open Trophy. Credit:The Times

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Arpan Sharma

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Modern Sports Commentary From Everyday Fans, For Everyday Fans

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