E-Paper
US Open 2022 Men's singles draw preview: Nadal, Medvedev favourites amid possibilities aplenty in Djokovic's absence
The 2022 Grand Slam calendar ends the way it started. The only difference being that Novak Djokovic's fate wasn't a surprise. With Rafael Nadal as the hot favourite the remainder of the draw offers possibilities aplenty.
The 2022 Grand Slam calendar ends the way it started. The only difference being that Novak Djokovic's fate wasn't a surprise. America's Covid-19 protocols denied the Serb an entry into the country for the US Open 2022, forcing him to withdraw from the tournament just hours before the men's singles draw was announced on Thursday, leaving Rafael Nadal the only multiple US Open winner on the list. This also implies that the remainder of the draw is wide open, leaving an opportunity at hand for defending champion Daniil Medvedev, rising star Carlos Alcaraz, a rejuvenated Nick Kyrgios along with Stefanos Tsitsipas, Matteo Berrettini and Taylor Fritz.
FIRST QUARTER:
A year back Medvedev stunned Djokovic in straight sets to claim his much-awaited maiden Grand Slam title. But the next 12 months haven't been in favour of the Russian. Going two sets up against Nadal in the Australian Open final, Medvedev conceded the lead and subsequently the title. Despite a Wimbledon ban for Russian players, Medvedev was part of the grass-court season where he suffered two unexpected defeats in the Rosmalen and Halle final. He was expected to get his season back on track in the North American summer swing where he has excelled in the last three years, but lost to Kyrgios in the first round of Canadian Open and to Tsitsipas in Cincinnati Masters semis. Medvedev will begin his campaign against 110th-ranked Stefan Kozlov before a potential Kyrgios meeting awaits in the pre-quarters.
The Aussie did create some hype around him with a summer to remember, having reached the Wimbledon final before claiming a singles title in Washington and then stretched his winning streak to nine consecutive matches before losing to Hurkacz in the Canadian Open quarters and suffering a second-round exit in Cincinnati after loss against Fritz. Despite the topsy-turvy run, Kyrgios became a seeded player for the first time ever in his career in a Grand Slam event. He has his first match against doubles partner Thanasi Kokkinakis.
The other eight of this draw has 2020 champion Dominic Thiem, who will open his campaign against Montreal winner Pablo Carreño Busta; Atlanta champion Alex de Minaur and 2021 US Open semifinalist Felix Auger-Aliassime, who has made a quarter final run in both Canadian Open and Cincinnati Masters.
Quarterfinal: Medvedev beats Auger-Aliassime
SECOND QUARTER:
Inconsistency has defined Tsitsipas' career so far and such has been his 2022. After a second-round exit in Montreal, he bounced back to beat Medvedev to make the Cincinnati final where he lost to Borna Coric. His 2022 Grand Slam experience has been quite up to the mark. After having reached his fourth Slam final in his career in Melbourne, he never made it past the pre-quarters in the next two. Tsitsipas also does not hold a good record at the Flushing Meadows, having suffered back-to-back third-round exits in the last two years.
The other eight includes fifth-seed Casper Ruud, who after his memorable run to the French Open final reached the the semis in Montreal, and Fritz, who made the quarters in Cincinnati. Both however, have never made it past the third round in the US Open.
Quarterfinal: Tsitsipas vs Fritz
THIRD QUARTER:
Since making the quarterfinals in US Open 2021, Alcaraz has been a force to reckon with twin Masters 1000 wins in 2022. He is an aggressive player and can run fast, but what has troubled the rising star has been his performance in crunch situations, exemplified by his loss to Cam Norrie in Cincinnati quarters. He has been handed a difficult draw in 2022. Beginning his campaign against Sebastian Baez before a possible third-round meeting with Cincinnati winner Coric, and Marin Cilic, 2014 US Open winner, in pre-quarters.
The other eight has Hurkacz, who reached the final in Montreal and Jannik Sinner, who has now gotten the better of Alcaraz in two consecutive meetings. And if all goes well for the young Spaniard, tennis fans will have a blockbuster semi-final clash on the cards with Rafael Nadal in the final quarter of the Slam.
Quarterfinal: Alcaraz beats Hurkacz
FOURTH QUARTER:
If you begin judging Nadal's Slam chances based on his performances in the tune-up events, he wouldn't have won most, if not any, of his recent majors. And that is what has defined Nadal's 2022 where he stands 19-0 in Slams. Heading to the US Open, Nadal featured in only one match, where he suffered a round-one loss to Coric in Cincinnati. But almost a similar thing had happened in 2017 as well. He ended up winning the trophy.
Nadal, who will be returning to the Flushing Meadows for the first time since claiming the trophy in 2019 and will be aiming to make the most of Djokovic's absence amid his injury scare, will open his campaign against 198th-ranked Rinky Hijikata. His two notable early threats are Miomir Kecmanovic in third round and Frances Tiafoe in the fourth before a potential Norrie meeting awaits the four-time winner in the pre-quarters.
Quarterfinal: Nadal beats Norrie
Semifinal: Medvedev beats Tsitsipas/Fritz; Nadal beats Alcaraz
Final: Nadal beats Medvedev
