Novak Djokovic will not face Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, or Stan Wawrinka at the upcoming US Open. However, that doesn’t mean that the Serbian sensation will have a free ride at the American major. This is what 2-times doubles slam champion and Swiss Fed Cup Team captain Heinz Gunthardt thinks about Djokovic’s chances at the US Open.
Djokovic has won the US Open already on 3 occasions in 2011, 2015, and 2018 and if he plays this year, he will be the favorite no.1 to conquer the title.
Thiem, Tsitsipas and Zverev to challenge Djokovic
According to Gunthardt, Novak will still have to watch his back as the likes of Dominic Thiem, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev will definitely try to win their maiden slam in New York.
“It could be the chance for Dominic Thiem, Stefanos Tsitsipas or Alexander Zverev. The US Open is anything but a free ride for Novak Djokovic. He also knows what he has to lose and how it can go wrong.
The status of a Grand Slam event is relative, and the past has shown that too. In the short term, it may be called into question, but in the long term a lesser meaning hardly sticks in people’s minds.
Because it affects everyone, 2020 will probably be remembered longer as a pandemic year. But whoever wins the US Open will not be questioned later. And one thing is certain: he will have to work hard for it.”
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Novak Djokovic in 2020
At the moment ranked no.1, Novak played his last match on the 29th of February when he beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3 6-4 in the final in Dubai to win his 79th career title.
During this season Novak has a 18-0 win-loss record. Djokovic has won 2 titles in 2020 at the Australian Open and in Dubai.
Dominic Thiem in 2020
Now ranked no.3 (career-high), Thiem played his last match on the 22nd of February when he surrendered to Gianluca Mager 7-64 7-5 in the quarter in Rio De Janeiro.
Dominic Thiem’s best performance of the year was getting to the final at the Australian Open.
Novak Djokovic and Dominic Thiem played each other 11 times. The head to head is 7-4 for Djokovic. The last time that they locked horns, Novak Djokovic won 6-4 4-6 2-6 6-3 6-4 in the final in Melbourne (Australian Open) on the 2nd of February 2020.
Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2020
Currently the world no.6, the Greek played his last match on the 7th of March when he beat Jeson Patrombon 6-2 6-1 in the Rubber 4 of the Davis Cup.
At present, this year Tsitsipas has a 11-5 win-loss record. Stefanos conquered 1 title in Marseille. Tsitsipas was the finalist in Dubai.
Alexander Zverev in 2020
Now ranked no.7, Zverev played his last match on the 26th of February when he was overcome by Tommy Paul 6-3 6-4 in the 2nd round in Acapulco.
Alexander Zverev’s most significant achievement of the present year was getting to the semi-finals at the Australian Open.
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev played each other 6 times. The head to head is 5-1 for Tsitsipas. The last time that they played each other, Stefanos Tsitsipas won 6-1 6-4 in the round robin in Brisbane, Perth, Sydney (ATP Cup) on the 5th of January 2020.
Here the highlights.
Novak Djokovic, Dominic Thiem |
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