US Open 2019: Preview, key players and seedings
The US Open is the final Grand Slam of the year and top tennis players will be aiming to make it count at the Flushing Meadows. World number ones Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka have been named as top seeds for the men's and women's singles respectively, The US Open starts from August 26 onwards. Here is the complete preview.
Novak Djokovic is the favorite to win US Open 2019
Serbian star Novak Djokovic will be chasing a 17th Grand Slam singles title in New York. He heads the men's field and is vying for a third Slam this year. Djokovic won the Australian Open and Wimbledon earlier in 2019. He goes into the Grand Slam tourney as the favorite to win the trophy. The world number one produces his best in Grand Slams.
Can Nadal and Federer stop Djoker?
20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer is seeded third. The veteran Swiss ace is vying for a first Slam in 2019 and will be wanting to give his all. However, Federer hasn't won the US Open since 2008. Spaniard Rafael Nadal is seeded second. The 18-time Grand Slam winner pocketed the French Open this year. He won the US Open in 2017.
The top four in men's singles
Men's singles: Top 10 seedings and key players
Cincinnati Masters 2019 winner Daniil Medvedev is seeded fifth. The Russian international has what it takes to win games. The likes of Dominic Thiem (4), Alexander Zverev (6), Kei Nishikori (7), Stefanos Tsitsipas (8), Karen Khachanov (9) and Roberto Bautista Agut (10) complete the top ten list. One will hope to see youngsters Zverev and Tsitsipas perform well and go as far as possible.
How does the women's singles top four shape up?
Japanese ace Osaka bagged her maiden Grand Slam title in 2018 and followed it up with her second Slam at the Australian Open in January. She will be aiming to put the recent disappointments behind her and get the job done. Ashleigh Barty, Karolina Pliskova and Simona Halep complete the top four. They are sheer title contenders and there's loads of quality here.
The top four in women's singles
Serena has a tough road ahead
Serena Williams is yet to win a trophy since returning to tennis in 2018. The 2018 US Open finalist is seeded eighth. Recent injuries have bothered her and she retired in the Canadian Open final, before missing out on Cincinnati Masters. Elina Svitolina (5), Petra Kvitova (6), Kiki Bertens (7), Aryna Sabalenka (9) and Madison Keys (10) complete the top 10 in women's singles.