10 things to look for at the 2021 US Open

 

           

With the 2021 US Open starting on Monday, it is time for me to write my list of 10 things to look for at the final grand slam event of the year. If you want to take a look at the draws, click here. If you want to check out my 10 things to take away from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, click here. 

#1. Can Novak Djokovic bounce back from his disappointing Olympics? In my takeaways from the Olympics, I mentioned that Djokovic had a disappointing outing. Not just because he didn't get the gold, but because of the way he exited in a less than graceful manner. While he won't get the golden slam, a calendar slam is still on the table for him to get. It'll be interesting to see how Djokovic does and whether or not the pressure of a calendar slam will get to him. Personally, I do expect Djokovic to win it all. He's my pick. But it's not going to be easy. 

#2. Can Naomi Osaka get back on track? Naomi Osaka has had a weird summer. She pulled out of the French Open and skipped Wimbledon all together due to emotional reasons and then came back for the Olympics where she had an early exit. If there's an event where Osaka would get back on track, it's the US Open. She's won the event twice and her other two grand slam titles have come on the hardcourt at Australia. Osaka is trying to distance herself from what happened this summer, saying she didn't handle things well. The best way for her to fully put this all behind her is to win the US Open or at least make a deep run. We'll see if she can. 

#3. Can Daniil Medvedev go the distance? Daniil Medvedev showed promise by reaching the 2019 US Open final and he reached the 2021 Australian Open final earlier this year. He's definitely knocking on the door and hard court is his best surface. If there's a guy who you'd pick to upset Djokovic, Medvedev on paper would be the guy. He's #2 in the world and has the pieces to get it done. It's just a matter of him mentally having the belief that he can do it. 

#4. Can Ashleigh Barty contend? On paper, this seems like a dumb question. Ashleigh Barty is #1 in the world right now and she's coming off a Wimbledon title. Of course she can contend, right? What makes this a not so stupid question is the fact that she's never reached the quarterfinals at the US Open. It's always been a 4th round or earlier exit for her in New York. If Barty could breakthrough to win the US Open, she really would be cooking with gas and on her way to being the next dominant player in women's tennis. 

#5. Is Alexander Zverev ready to win a grand slam? After winning the gold medal in Tokyo, Alexander Zverev is gaining more momentum towards winning his first grand slam title. He's got the physical tools to do it and much like Medvedev, it's really all about the mental side and having that belief. If he can win the US Open, Zverev will be on the verge of being the next breakout star in men's tennis. 

#6. Can the American women make any noise with Serena Williams and Sofia Kenin out? Earlier this week, Serena Williams pulled out of the US Open due a torn hamstring while Sofia Kenin pulled out due to a positive COVID-19 test despite being fully vaccinated. Had they been healthy, they would have been among the favorites to win on the women's side. 

With Serena and Sofia out, it's going to be up to other American women to carry the torch and bring home the title. The most likely women to do it are (23) Jessica Pegula, (21) Coco Gauff, (26) Danielle Collins, (13) Jennifer Brady, Madison Keys, and Sloane Stephens. It'll be interesting to see if any of them can deliver the goods. One interesting thing to note is that Keys and Stephens face off in the first round. Not sure if that's good or bad for fans of American tennis. 

#7. Can Stefanos Tsitsipas make a deep run? Stefanos Tsitsipas is another rising star in tennis looking to move up. He's reached the semis of the Australian Open twice and reached the French Open final this year. However, he lost in the first round at Wimbledon and the third round at the Olympics, so it appears as though that run to the French Open final wore him out. It should also be noted that Tsitsipas' deepest run in the US Open has been to the third round in 2020. So a run to the quarterfinals or deeper would be a big deal for him. 

#8. Look for Jennifer Brady to win the women's title: With Serena Williams out and Naomi Osaka still finding her footing again, it's hard to pick a champion on the women's side, but I'm going to go out on a bit of a limb and pick Jennifer Brady to bring it home for the USA. She's the #13 seed and reached the semifinals of the 2020 US Open, where she lost to Naomi Osaka in three sets. I think she's got a great chance to go the distance and being the top ranked American should give her a little extra motivation. 

#9. Can Denis Shapovalov make Canada proud? Seeded #7, Denis Shapovalov is the highest rated Canadian player and more broadly speaking the highest rated North American on the men's side. He reached the quarterfinals of the 2020 US Open and the semifinals at Wimbledon, so he too is trending up. He doesn't get as much recognition as some of the other "next gen" guys, but he deserves to be in the same conversation as the rest of them. Maybe the 2021 US Open will be his big breakthrough. 

#10. Does Victoria Azarenka have another magical run in her? When Victoria Azarenka reached the US Open final last year, it was her first trip to a grand slam final since the 2013 US Open. She showed that she still has game and can still compete for grand slam titles. She's won the Australian Open twice (2012 and 2013) and has reached the US Open final three times (2012, 2013, and 2020). Maybe she has another run in her? It'll be fun to see! 

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10 things to look for at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics tennis tournament

 

                                           (Credit: Charly Triballeau/Agence France-Presse-Getty Images) 

The 2020 Olympics in Tokyo get underway this weekend with tennis starting on Saturday. This blog always does a preview and recap of every grand slam with the Olympics being treated as the 5th grand slam. As a result, here is my list of 10 things to look for at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics tennis tournament. 

Note: The Tokyo Olympics are still being referred to as the 2020 Tokyo Olympics even though we are now in the year 2021. Also, no ranking points will be awarded to the players. Click here to access the draws and scores. 

#1. Can Novak Djokovic get the golden slam? Novak Djokovic is gunning for a lot this summer: A record 21st grand slam singles title at the US Open and a golden calendar grand slam, which would mean winning all four grand slams in a calendar year plus an Olympic gold medal. The only tennis player to do this is Steffi Graf back in 1988. If Djokovic can win the gold in Tokyo all he'll have left in front of him is the US Open and the golden slam will be his. 

Personally, I like Djokovic's odds to get the gold medal. He's in Tokyo because he wants the gold and I think he's treating this as seriously as a grand slam. With Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer both missing from the field, Djokovic's job is a little bit easier. This one really is all teed for him to win. While I don't want to get too far ahead of myself, I think the bigger question is whether or not Djokovic can complete the golden slam in New York at the US Open later this summer. 

#2. Can Naomi Osaka get back on track? It's been a strange season for Naomi Osaka as she pulled out of the French Open due to anxiety and subsequently skipped Wimbledon as a result. That's raised a lot of questions about her future, but one thing that helps put everyone at ease, at least a little bit, is the fact that she's participating in the Olympics in front of her home fans in Japan. 

If Osaka can win gold in Tokyo, that would be really cool for her and hopefully help her put what happened at the French Open in the rear view mirror. She's a very talented player that still has a lot of untapped potential. Hopefully the Tokyo games will get her out of her weird mental funk. 

#3. Can Stefanos Tsitsipas bounce back from Wimbledon? After reaching the final at Roland Garros, everyone expected Stefanos Tsitsipas to make a deep run at Wimbledon. As I mentioned in my recap of Wimbledon, Tsitsipas has never done well at Wimbledon and that is something that he needs to figure out. Fortunately, he has the Olympics to look forward to. If he could upset Djokovic to get the gold medal or even get a silver or bronze, that could be just what the doctor ordered to get him back on track after a very disappointing outing in London. 

#4. Can Ashleigh Barty build on her Wimbledon title with a gold medal? After winning Wimbledon, Ashleigh Barty comes in as the #1 ranked player on the women's side, eying a possible "Barty Golden Slam" if she wins gold and the next three grand slams. Barty can breathe a sigh of relief after winning Wimbledon, but she would like to keep the good vibes rolling as she heads into the US Open. Winning a gold medal would certainly help her do that and be another feather in her cap as she goes about establishing herself as the #1 player in the world on the women's side. 

#5. Can Kei Nishikori make a run? It's been a while since Kei Nishikori was relevant in a grand slam, but the Tokyo Olympics present a unique opportunity for Nishikori to play well in front of the home fans. If there's a dark horse on the men's side, it's gotta be Nishikori given that until Naomi Osaka came along, he was the most popular tennis player in the land of the rising sun. If he makes a deep run and finds a way to get a medal, that would be really cool. 

#6. Can Aryna Sabalenka build on her run to the semis at Wimbledon? Another player looking to build on two good weeks in London is Aryna Sabalenka, who comes in as the #3 seed on the women's side. She reached the semifinals at Wimbledon and has to like her chances to get a medal in Tokyo. If she can get a medal that would do wonders for her confidence and help her build even more momentum heading into the US Open. 

#7. Can Daniil Medvedev spoil the party? Daniil Medvedev comes in as the #2 seed on the men's side and the biggest threat to end Novak Djokovic's quest for a golden slam. Medvedev plays well on the hard courts, reaching the Australian Open final earlier this year and the US Open semifinals last year. Medvedev has had fun playing the bad guy and would certainly enjoy being the one to get in the way of history. 

#8. Can Jennifer Brady bring home a medal for the United States? If you are an American looking for one player to possibly bring home a medal in tennis, Jennifer Brady is the player you have to put your faith in. She's the highest ranked American on either side, coming in as the #11 seed.  On top of that, she has had some recent success on the hard courts, reaching the semifinals at the US Open last year and the final at the Australian Open earlier this year. While she is a bit of a dark horse, she has to like the opportunity that's in front of her to be the top ranked American in the field. If she can bring home a medal, that could be a huge boost for her heading into the US Open later this summer. 

#9. Can Alexander Zverev make a run for a medal? Alexander Zverev comes in as the #4 seed on the men's side, making him a contender. However, he's still figuring out how to consistently contend at slams as his run to the 2020 US Open final is his only trip to a grand slam final to date. If there's one player on the men's side that could most benefit from getting a medal, just from a mental standpoint, it would be Zverev without a doubt. 

#10. Can Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova get over the hump? Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is still seeking her first career grand slam title after falling just a bit short in the French Open final earlier this year. While an Olympic gold medal isn't the same as a grand slam title, it's the next best thing and a highly distinctive honor in tennis. If she were able to win gold, that would certainly be one of the feel good stories of the games. How far she goes will certainly be one of the key things to look for in this tournament. 

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10 things to take away from the 2021 Australian Open

                                     
                                         (Credit: SI.com) 

The 2021 Australian Open is a wrap! Novak Djokovic took home his 9th Australian Open title and 18th grand slam title, defeating Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 in the men's singles final. Naomi Osaka took home her 2nd Australian Open title and 4th grand slam title, defeating Jennifer Brady 6-4, 6-3 in the women's singles final. Below is my list of 10 things to take away from the two weeks that were in Melbourne. 

Note: Click here to check out complete results from the tournament in case you missed any of the action. 

#1. Novak Djokovic is very much in the GOAT conversation: Love him or hate him, when you look at all that Novak Djokovic is accomplishing, it's clear that he's very much in the discussion for GOAT (Greatest Of All Time). He's just two shy of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal's mark of 20 grand slam titles and for whatever reason, he's especially found his groove in Australia. He had to battle through some injury, but found a way to still come out on top. It's amazing what this guy is doing. 

#2. Naomi Osaka is the best in the world on hard court: Naomi Osaka proved that she is the best in the world on the hard courts after winning her 2nd Australian Open title. Her other two grand slam titles have also come on the hard courts at the U.S. Open, so she's certainly figured things out on the hard court. The next step for her is to figure out how to win on the grass of Wimbledon and the clay of Roland Garros. Once she figures that out, she could truly dominate the sport. 

#3. Daniil Medvedev isn't quite there yet: Daniil Medvedev is knocking on the door, but he still has more work to do before he wins his first grand slam. This was his second trip to the final of a grand slam (2019 U.S. Open) and all things considered, he has to feel good about the way he competed over the two weeks in total. At the same time, he has to also feel a bit discouraged to not get a single set off Djokovic. One thing Djokovic said earlier in the tournament is he, Nadal, and Federer aren't going to hand anything over to the next generation. Sunday was just another reminder of that. 

#4. Jennifer Brady has established herself as one of the top American players: When talking about the top American players, Serena Williams of course is right at the top with Madison Keys, Sofia Kenin, and Sloane Stephens often getting mentioned next. By reaching the final and elevating her ranking to #13 in the world, Brady shows she belongs among the very best of America's players and that she might be the next American to win a grand slam. It's going to be interesting to see what the rest of 2021 brings for Brady. 

#5. The Australian Open is not Rafael Nadal's event: Rafael Nadal has won Roland Garros 13 times, Wimbledon twice, the U.S. Open four times, and the Australian Open once in his career. For whatever reason, the Australian Open just isn't his event. It's a bit odd because he's won the U.S. Open, also a hard court event more than Wimbledon, so hard court is his second best surface. One would think he'd have more Australian Open titles under his belt, but alas he has just the one in 2009. 

This year, he went out in the quarterfinals to Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-2, 6-7, 4-6, 5-7, blowing a two set lead. I'm not saying Nadal will never win another Australian Open, but after seeing the way he lost this one and also looking back on his overall history at the event, it's hard to see it happening. Fortunately he's still got Roland Garros on lockdown! 

#6. Ashleigh Barty needs to step it up Down Under: As the #1 ranked player in the world and by extension the top ranked Aussie, Ashleigh Barty needs to step it up in her home grand slam. She exited in the quarterfinals 6-1, 3-6, 2-6 to #25 Karolina Muchova and quite honestly, choked that match. She should have gone to the final and been on the other end of the net facing Naomi Osaka in the final. She had a really good draw and wasn't able to get it done. The bottom line is we should expect more out of Barty going forward. This year's Aussie Open was a major disappointment for her. 

#7. Aslan Karatsev has arrived: Nobody knew who Aslan Karatsev was before this tournament (including myself) and he made quite an introduction, making it all the way to the semifinals before falling to Novak Djokovic in straight sets. It'll be interesting to see if this guy can work his way into more semifinals going forward and possibly even reach a final. The vibe I've gotten is this guy is for real and that this won't be the last we see from him. Going to be fun to see how he performs at Roland Garros and beyond. 

#8. Whether or not Serena Williams wins another grand slam is very much a live question: Even though she lost in the semifinals to Naomi Osaka and had an impressive win over Simona Halep in the quarterfinals, it's still not clear if we'll ever see Serena Williams win her 24th grand slam singles title and tie Margaret Court's record. She hasn't won a grand slam singles title since the 2017 Australian Open. That's four years ago. She'll turn 40 in September and quite honestly doesn't have much time left in her career. As a matter of fact, the way she left all emotional and all had some wondering if this was her last Aussie Open. I hope it's not, but the end is near regardless. 

#9. Stefanos Tsitsipas likewise has more growing to do: At 22 years of age, Stefanos Tsitsipas is still a young man and has plenty of time to win his first grand slam title. He's getting close, but is still yet to reach his first career final. Going down in straight sets to Medvedev in the semis, who in turn went down in straight sets to Djokovic in the final has to put things in perspective for him. Hopefully he'll use this as a learning opportunity and motivation to get better. He's certainly one of the brightest young talents in the game today. 

#10. Sofia Kenin was a disappointment: I picked Sofia Kenin to win the women's title and she exited in the 2nd round. As the defending champion and top five player in the world, she has to do better than that. Hopefully she'll bounce back and have a strong rest of the season. Maybe the U.S. Open will be her time to shine once again. 

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