US Open - Men’s Singles Preview

2022 US Open - Men’s Singles Preview 

It’s a shame that one of the consequences of a disturbing discriminatory border policy adopted by the US government, will be the absence from this years US Open of arguably the worlds best male player, and winner of the recent Wimbledon singles trophy.

However, Djokovic has accepted it publicly with grace, so we all should move past that for now, and concentrate on a fortnight of unqualified Grand Slam tennis.

Last years Mens Singles champion was Daniil Medvedev, and he deserves favouritism to defend his crown as top seed.

A title in Los Cabos at the start of August, and a semi final in Cincinnati last week, is enough to suggest running into form at the appropriate time.

Medvedev is drawn to meet Roberto Bautista Agut (16) in the round of sixteen. Though it could be Nick Kyrgios (23), and only a couple of weeks ago the Australian won a three setter against Medvedev in Montreal.

Kyrgios has been one of the hottest players on tour, and the Wimbledon finalist is as unpredictable as dangerous.

The seeded quarter final opponent is Felix Auger-Aliassime (6).

While in form unseeded players such as Jack Draper and Thiago Monteiro may pose early nuisance value, of greater concern in a likely round of sixteen is Pablo Carreno Busta (12).

Pablo won the recent Masters 1000 tournament in Montreal and his

first round match is against 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem, who is on the long road back from injury.

I see Medvedev in the semis.

The other quarter in the top half is controlled by Stefanos Tsitsipas (4), and he also has an unseeded former US Open champion - Andy Murray - floating around his section. Murray could even fight Matteo Berrettini (13) for the right to play Stefanos in the round of sixteen. Yoshihito Nishioka and Maxime Cressy (30) may offer practice before that.

Taylor Fritz (10) - the best homegrown hope this year - should be the quarter final rival for Tsitsipas, although ranked below Ruud in that section of the draw.

Fritz took out the red hot Kyrgios, then Rublev, in Cincinnati, and only Medvedev stopped him.

Ruud’s record in majors is poor, especially in New York.

A third unseeded former US Open champion - Stan Wawrinka - is a potential third round opponent for Fritz in his run to a possible semi final, but he would need to defeat in form Botic van de Zandschulp (21).

The top half of the bottom half of the draw is the Carlos Alcaraz (3) quarter.

The teenage star is contesting just his second US Open, having made the quarters last year unseeded. Amongst his victories a third round five setter over third seed Tsitsipas.

This time Carlos is the third seed, and the hunted. And the likely first real challenge will come from Borna Coric (25) in the third round.

Coric just won the Cincinnati Masters 1000, unseeded, knocking off Nadal, Bautista Agut, Auger-Aliassime, Norrie, and Tsitsipas in the final.

The winner of Alcaraz and Coric has most likely Marin Cilic (14) to face in the round of sixteen, Cilic the 2014 champion.

The quarter final opposition will come from a section containing Hubert Hurkacz (8) and Jannik Sinner (11).

To be honest, no one else in that section looks a chance of bothering anyone beyond a round or two. (even Hurkacz hasn’t gone past the second round in four attempts, the last two as a seed)

Perhaps Adrian Mannarino if his form from Winston-Salem stands up, and Grigor Dimitrov (17) if he recovers from injury in time, could sneak through further.

I’m forgiving the horrible Grand Slam record of Hurkacz, and suggesting that he will break through at Flushing Meadows and make the quarter finals.

However, Alcaraz will prevent any more Polish advance, and enter his first semi final at a major.

Rafa Nadal is the second seed and leads the bottom half of the draw.

His road to the quarter final is usually straightforward, and this year presents no particular fuss either. 

It will be the first US Open attempt since 2019 for Nadal, when he defeated Medvedev in the final.

After he wins his way to the round of sixteen, it will probably be either Diego Schwartzman (14) or Frances Tiafoe (22) that Nadal will meet there.

Both those players were defeated at this stage of the tournament last year, and whomever reaches there again will have the pleasure of exiting via Nadal.

The quarter final opponent for Nadal will come from a section featuring Cameron Norrie (7) and John Isner. That’s where the form is.

In the opposite section, Denis Shapovalov (19) has had a shocking 2022, and Andrey Rublev (9) has fallen from the top ten.

I think Isner can deliver his big serving significantly once again at a major, and test the renowned returning skill of Nadal in the quarters.

My predictions:

Quarter finals:

Daniil Medvedev (1) to defeat Pablo Carreno Busta (12)

Taylor Fritz (10) to defeat Stefanos Tsitsipas (4)

Carlos Alcaraz (3) to defeat Hubert Hurkacz (8)

Rafael Nadal (2) to defeat John Isner 

Semi finals:

Daniil Medvedev (1) to defeat Taylor Fritz (10)

Carlos Alcaraz (3) to defeat Rafael Nadal (2)

Final:

Carlos Alcaraz (3) to defeat Daniil Medvedev (1)