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2017 ATP U.S. OPEN PREVIEW

8/27/2017

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This Week In Tennis
​Season 2, Vol 22b

Welcome to the ATP U.S. Open preview edition of  "This Week in Tennis." ​Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal headline a depleted field at the last Slam of 2017: Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka, Kei Nishikori, and Milos Raonic are all missing from this year's field due to injury. World #1, Nadal, will seek his first hard court title in three years, and attempt to stave off a Federer charge for his top ranking over the next fortnight. Both men, the top ATP performers on the season, are on course for a semifinal meeting and a first ever match between the two at the U.S. Open. 

​This preview will give a rundown of the top eight seeds, players to watch, intriguing first round matches, plus a collection of tennis writing and podcasts from the past week. 
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ATP SINGLES DRAW

(1) Rafael Nadal

Nadal's resurgent 2017 has seen him reach the Australian Open final, win Roland Garros, and regain the world #1 ranking. For all the positives and success that Nadal has achieved this year, he enters the U.S. Open after back-to-back unimpressive losses in Montreal and Cincinnati. After a shock defeat to Shapovalov in Canada, Nadal was unable to trouble Kyrgios in a straight-sets loss at the Western & Southern Open. With Federer hot on his heels for the top ranking, Nadal will look to score his first quarterfinal in New York since winning the title in 2013. 

Best Result: W - 2010, 2013
2016 Result: 4R - Pouille

(2) Andy Murray

Slated to be the second seed in New York, Murray withdrew from the event on Saturday after being unable to sufficiently rehab his ongoing hip injury Marin Cilic slides into Murray's place in the draw and will face Tennys Sandgren on Monday. The Brit hopes to return to the court as soon as possible, and does not plan (at this point) to take the rest of the season off. 

Best Result: W - 2012
2016 Result: QF - Nishikori

(3) Roger Federer

Despite concerns about a back injury he sustained in the Montreal final, Federer remains the bookmaker's favourite in New York. He won his 18th and 19th Slam titles earlier this year in Australia and at Wimbledon, to go along with back-to-back Masters 1000 titles in Indian Wells and Miami; simply put, Federer has had an awesome 2017 campaign. If he is healthy, and especially with a depleted field in New York, his status as front runner is well earned. A first ever meeting with Nadal in New York looms in the semifinals, as well as the prospect of regaining the #1 ranking for the first time since November, 2012.

​Best Result: W - 2004-2008
2016 Result: DNP
​

(4) Alex Zverev

The ATP has been in search of it's "generation next" for years and, in Zverev, the tour seems to have found its heir to the "Big Four." At only 20-years-old, Zverev has already won six ATP titles, including two Masters 1000 titles this year in Rome and Montreal. Still, Zverev is in search of a breakthrough at a Grand Slam event, having never advances past the fourth round at any of his nine previous main draw appearances.  He followed his Rome win on clay with a first round exit at the French Open. All eyes will be on him this time around to see if he can announce, in full, his arrival on one of tennis' biggest stages.
​
Best Result: 2R - 2016
2016 Result: 2R - Evans
​(5) Marin Cilic

A consistent spring for the Croat culminated in his second career Slam final at Wimbledon. However, the 2014 U.S. Open champion has not played an event since, due to injury, and questions remain about his readiness to take advantage of sliding into Murray's (weak) spot in the bottom half of the draw. If healthy -- the most common question asked of ATP players these days -- Cilic stands as good a chance as any to emerge from the non-Fedal half of the draw. 

Best Result: W - 2014
2016 Result: 3R - Sock

(6) Dominic Thiem

The 23-year-old has shown his pedigree on the Grand Slam stage before, reaching the semifinals of the French Open the last two years. His emphatic win over Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals of Roland Garros this year appeared to set him up for bigger things the rest of the season. However, the Austrian has since struggled to maintain -- and regain -- that form, most recently turning in a surprising straight-sets loss to David Ferrer in Cincinnati. Undoubtedly better on clay than hard courts, Thiem will not be aided in New York by his draw: del Potro looms in the fourth round (a repeat of last year), before potential back-to-back matches against Federer and Nadal. 

Best Result: 4R - 2014, 2016
2016 Result: 4R - Del Potro

(7) Grigor Dimitrov

Amidst all the talk of Zverev's arrival, Dimitrov followed the German's Masters win in Montreal with one of his own in Cincinnati a week later. After a very good start to the year -- highlighted by a five-set tussle with Nadal in the Australian Open semifinals -- Dimitrov slowed up until his big breakout in Cincinnati. Once considered the ATP's next best, the Bulgarian carries momentum into the season's last Slam, and might be primed to translate that into a career-best performance. If he is to breakout on tennis' biggest stage, he might have to get past Nadal in the quarterfinals to do so.

​Best Result: 4R - 2014, 2016

2016 Result: 4R - Murray

​(8) Jo Tsonga

Despite winning three of his 15 career ATP titles earlier this year, Tsonga begins the U.S. Open as more of a candidate to crash out early than better his quarterfinal showings in New York the last two years. After a great start to the year, Tsonga has been unable to sustain that level in recent months. In his favour, the Frenchman is drawn into arguably the weakest quarter, one that is now devoid of Andy Murray since his withdrawal. If he is able to get past one of Shapovalov or Medvedev in the second round, he could score a career-best result at the Open.
​
Best Result: QF - 2011, 2015, 2016

2016 Result: QF - Djokovic

​TOP 32 SEEDS
1. Nadal
2. Murray
3. Federer
4. Zverev
5. Cilic
6. Thiem
7. Dimitrov
8. Tsonga
​
9.  Goffin
10. Isner
11. Bautista Agut
12. Carreno Busta
13. Sock
14. Kyrgios
15. Berdych
16. Pouille
​
17. Querrey
18. Monfils
19. Muller
20. Ramos-Vinolas
21. Ferrer
22. Fognini
23. M. Zverev
24. del Potro
​
25. Khachanov
26. Gasquet
27. Cuevas
28. Anderson
29. Schwartzman
30. Mannarino
31. Lopez
​32. Haase

​PLAYERS TO WATCH

  • ​Nick Kyrgios - Seemingly in a good place mentally, Kyrgios is coming off a runner-up finish at the Cincinnati Masters 1000 event. 
  • Juan Martin del Potro - The 2009 champ is a danger to any opponent on any given day. Unfortunately for the Argentine, he too is drawn in the lopsided top half of the men's draw. 
  • Diego Schwartzman - the world's greatest Jewish tennis player is having a career year, and could benefit from Marin Cilic taking  Andy Murray's spot in the draw. 
  • Karen Khachanov - A huge talent steadily moving up the rankings, Khachanov landed in a fairly soft section of the bottom half.
  • Denis Shapovalov - The 19-year-old Canadian had to qualify after failing to receive a wild card. He begins the event with three match wins already under his belt to go along with his run to the Montreal semifinals (including a win over #1 Rafael Nadal).

​FIRST ROUND INTRIGUE

(15) Berdych vs. Harrison
(3) Federer vs. Tiafoe
Verdasco vs. Pospisil
(11) Bautista Agut vs. Seppi
(5) Cilic vs. Simon
Kohlschreiber vs. Paire
D. King vs. A. Zverev
Shapovalov vs. Medvedev
Kokkinakis vs. Tipsarevic

TOURNAMENT NOTES
​
  • Five of the top eleven ranked players in the world are absent from this year's event, all due to injury: Murray, Djokovic, Wawrinka, Nishikori, and Raonic.
  • Stan Wawrinka is out for the rest of the season, and will be unable to defend his title from one year ago. 

@newyorkpalace, #PalacePerks, had great fun at the Lotte New York Palace Invitational

A post shared by Rafa Nadal (@rafaelnadal) on Aug 26, 2017 at 2:32pm PDT

What a cool Event @pharrell @adidastennis @adidasoriginals #adidaspharrellwilliams #mygame

A post shared by Dominic Thiem (@domithiem) on Aug 26, 2017 at 2:16pm PDT

Muchas gracias, capi!! □ https://t.co/KMmEAnkAQc

— Roberto BautistaAgut (@BautistaAgut) August 27, 2017

Here comes the magic touch ! Ready to give it all ! #DHstyle @DanielHechter pic.twitter.com/8e2CB6bysG

— Gael Monfils (@Gael_Monfils) August 26, 2017

the medical team□□□□ and to my fans for your support in these tough times □!!
☹️□□‍♂️□□□□□□□□□□□□□□‍♂️⏳□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□❓□□□□‍♂️□☀️□□□□□□□ pic.twitter.com/SFrGZ34vzB

— Stanislas Wawrinka (@stanwawrinka) August 15, 2017

□ pic.twitter.com/MtKKx1vghg

— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) August 22, 2017

Nice night hanging out with my big Bro in NYC.. Doesn't he look like he's really enjoying it? @jamie__murray #nyc #bigbrother #family

A post shared by Andy Murray (@andymurray) on Aug 21, 2017 at 7:02pm PDT

Great evening at the @tasteoftennis with the boys @iamgaelmonfils @k1ngkyrg1os

A post shared by Alexander Zverev (@alexzverev123) on Aug 25, 2017 at 8:42am PDT

Happy to be in NYC with great company #ComingForYou #Nikecourt

A post shared by Denis Shapovalov (@denis.shapovalov) on Aug 21, 2017 at 6:40pm PDT

Llegaron las mujeres de la casa a NYC... mi cara lo dice todo □□□ #usopen2017 #nyc #usa #atpworldtour2017 #tennis #broadway

A post shared by Diego Schwartzman (@dieschwartzman) on Aug 25, 2017 at 8:06pm PDT


​ON THE WEB

​Tennis' injury crisis crescendoes on eve of US Open — and the question now is why
​Nadal, Federer Battle For No. 1 At US Open
​Relentless schedule taking toll on big-name players
Kiwi doubles tennis star Michael Venus reveals he nearly quit the game he loves
​Summer of 'El Shapo' stays hot as teen qualifies for 1st U.S. Open
​Game Changer: Andy Murray
​Is Alexander Zverev The Future of Tennis?
​The Rise of Alexander Zverev
​100 Years of Fostering African-American Tennis Talent
​Talk of the Town: New Yorkers on What Makes Federer One of Their Own

PODCASTS

The Body Serve - US Open Preview: Where My Boys At?
​
WTA Insider - US Open Preview: Who will leave New York at No.1?
No Challenges Remaining - Paul Annacone and Giri Nathan
Beyond The Baseline - Rod Laver on inaugural Laver Cup
Realz Tenis Fanz - ​It’s a Serena Baby Shower US Open 2017 Draw Show Event
Tennis.com - Pre-U.S. Open Potpourri
Tennis Connected - With Cincinnati Complete, it’s Time for the US Open
​
Tennis Nerd Podcast - MASSIVE US OPEN MEGA-PREVIEW! WITH MATT ZEMEK!
​
Thirty Love - Tracy Austin on US Open and Tennis's Old Stars
​
Lucky Loser Podcast - I Know What A Birthday Is
​
1 Comment
online resume writer link
6/1/2018 10:49:56 am

Whatever happens, I will always be a fan of Rafael Nadal. His style in playing tennis is something that you don't see towards other players, and I will always be a fan of that style. I became a fan of other players, but it's been five years since I started to be a fan. But recently, we noticed that more and more great players are starting to show up; their potential can be observed! Let's see, I am still open to support other athletes as well.

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  • Home
  • THE BODY SERVE TENNIS PODCAST
  • Selected Writing
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