I am looking forward to US Open 2018 like never before. You remember last year? Federer, Nadal, Federer, Nadal. That is the list of 2017 Grand Slam winners. Nobody expected any surprises. If Roger had a bad day, Rafa was here and vice versa. I do not want to say that 2017 Grand Slams were boring. Not at all. They were just too predictable. Federer or Nadal, nobody else.
2016 was so different
2016 was different. Djokovic, Djokovic, Murray, and Wawrinka. Three different winners of Grand Slams. Everything was quite open from Quarterfinal matches at every Grand Slam. Even with Federer out for the autumn, there was so much good tennis at the courts. Not one predictable result and not a one sure Grand Slam winner.
2018 = 2016, I hope so
This year US Open reminds me the atmosphere of 2016. I still miss Andy Murray and hope he will come back in future in good shape. I also do not expect Stan the Man to show the tennis which got him to US Open Finals in 2016.
But we have Federer trying to show that Cincinnati loss was just coincidence. We have Nadal, who was absolutely fabulous in Toronto and with two weeks of rest in a pocket, he will be fresh and dangerous again. And of course, Novak Djokovic is here again. Marian Vajda brought him back from the land of oblivion. He won Wimbledon, he masterfully beat Federer in Cincinnati and he did not say his last word this year.
Just Djokovic return will improve the unpredictability of US Open 2018 against 2017 version. But we still can not forget on “second” tier players. Young and hungry for success. Marin Cilic knows how to win US Open and would like to repeat it. Kevin Anderson has the best season of his life. Juan Martin Del Potro was wisely scheduling his appearances to be fit and rested for US Open. Alexander Zverev has its problems last two tournaments, but he asked for help Ivan Lendl. Wau.
So we have three proven matadors and another four players who can win it and nobody will be surprised. And I am sure I missed to mention someone who will be shining in New York.
And the winner will be …
I already made my predictions before the season started here. I picked Novak Djokovic to be a star this year (though I predicted his cooperation with Stepanek and Agassi will be flourishing) and I had him as the US Open 2018 winner. Our Readers think that Roger Federer will be able to put behind shadows of Cincinnati and win the Grand Slam in New York.
Now I still hold my original pick. Novak Djokovic looks so refreshed and so eager to win like back in 2016. He deserves to be my pick and he deserves to win US Open 2018.
Share this:
