2016 US Open Preview: 10 things to look for at the US Open

     The 2016 US Open gets underway today and so it is time for me to do my list of 10 things to look for going into the final grand slam of the year!

Before I do that, as a quick refresher, here are the results in singles for the Olympics: Andy Murray & Monica Puig (gold); Juan Martin Del Potro & Angelique Kerber (silver); Kei Nishikori & Petra Kvitova (bronze). Andy Murray became the first player to win two Olympic golds in singles and Monica Puig became the first Puerto Rican to ever win an Olympic gold medal.

With that now out of the way, here is my list of 10 things to look for at the 2016 US Open!

#1. Novak Djokovic needs to bounce back: Novak Djokovic went out early at Wimbledon and also got bounced in the first round at the Olympics, losing to Juan Martin Del Potro. Novak Djokovic has been dealing with some injuries and he is also fatigued from the French Open. Novak Djokovic could really benefit from a strong outing at the US Open. He doesn't necessarily need to win it, but he needs to at least reach the semifinals.

#2. Serena Williams still needs to establish herself as World #1: Serena Williams has established herself as the greatest women's tennis player ever, but funny enough, she hasn't yet clinched the world #1 ranking for the year. As a matter of fact, Angelique Kerber is only 190 points behind Serena Williams going into the US Open. If Serena Williams wants to finish the year at #1, she'll need to win the US Open and also hope that Angelique Kerber doesn't make too deep of a run.

#3. Will Andy Murray continue to roll? Andy Murray is on quite a roll right now. He won the 2016 Wimbledon title and also the 2016 Olympic gold medal in singles. With Novak Djokovic having rough outings at Wimbledon and the Olympics, Andy Murray might be the favorite to win the US Open. It'll be interesting to see if Andy Murray continues his dominance and closes out the year with two grand slam titles.

#4. Is Monica Puig a threat to win a grand slam? Monica Puig is the #34 ranked player in the world, which makes some people question whether or not her Olympic gold medal should be taken seriously in terms of her potential to win a grand slam. I personally think Monica Puig has what it takes to win a grand slam based on what we saw in Rio. Also, I don't like it when people start to second guess or diminish people's achievements. Winning an Olympic gold medal is a huge deal in any sport and it's an even bigger deal when you are the first from your country to do it. Regardless of what happens at the US Open, Monica Puig's gold medal should be celebrated and treated with respect.

#5. Is Juan Martin Del Potro ready to make some noise in a grand slam? Juan Martin Del Potro is the other player whose results were a surprise in Rio. He won the silver medal with a win over Novak Djokovic in the first round. It'll be interesting to see whether or not he is able to carry his success from Rio into the US Open.

#6. Angelique Kerber has a lot on the line: As I mentioned previously, Angelique Kerber is breathing down Serena Williams' neck in the rankings. She won the Australian Open and lost in the Wimbledon final. She also won the silver medal in Rio. If Angelique Kerber can win the US Open and finish the year as the #1 ranked player in the world, that would be huge for her as she builds momentum for 2017. She already has great momentum for 2017, but finishing the year as #1 would be huge.

#7. How much gas does Rafael Nadal have? Rafael Nadal finished 4th in Rio, just shy of earning a medal. Rafael Nadal is still playing because he believes he can win another grand slam. I personally think we are unlikely to see him win another grand slam, but I hope he proves me wrong. I would love to see Rafa in contention in the final grand slam of 2016.

#8. Don't sleep on Venus Williams: Venus Williams is #6 in the world and still playing excellent tennis. If there is any dark horse in this grand slam it is Venus Williams. She knows what it takes to win at the US Open and she loves playing in front of the American crowd.

#9. How will Milos Raonic respond to his Wimbledon run? Milos Raonic finished in second place at Wimbledon and he is hoping to build off that momentum and win the US Open. Raonic has the pieces to win the US Open due to his big serve, powerful ground strokes, and mobility. If there is any dark horse on the men's side to win, it's definitely Milos Raonic. He's bound to win a grand slam at some point, so why not the 2016 US Open?

#10. Is Madison Keys ready to make her move? Madison Keys is currently #8 in the world and appears to be on the verge of breaking through at a grand slam. Will the 2016 US Open be the place she wins her first grand slam? I don't see why not. Her game is well suited for the hard courts due to her power and aggression. Plus, she loves to play in front of the American crowd. I wouldn't at all be surprised to see her win the 2016 US Open.

Prediction:  On the men's side, I'm predicting Andy Murray to win the singles title. Murray has too much momentum on his side for me to not pick him to win. On the women's side, I'm gonna roll with Madison Keys. Look for her to break through at the 2016 US Open and win her first of many grand slam titles.