With four out of the world’s top 11 players missing this year’s US Open men’s draw, the silver lining could lie with the future stars of the game.
Defending champion Stan Wawrinka has ended his season due to knee surgery and Novak Djokovic is out resting his troublesome elbow injury. Meanwhile, Kei Nishikori and Milos Raonic are both out of contention with wrist injuries. To the relief of US Open organisers, three out of the ‘big four’ will still play in the tournament, but the gap is opening for their successors.
Alexander Zverev is getting used to being known as the ‘next big thing’ in the sport. At the age of 20, he is the youngest player ranked in the world’s top 10 at sixth in the world. This season the German has already won four ATP titles, including two at Masters level. The last player to achieve that title tally at the same age was Juan Martin del Potro in 2008.
“I have won one ATP 500 event and one ATP 1000 event. I beat a lot of Top 10 players and have beaten a lot of great players, a lot of tough matches. I’m not a machine.” A tired Zverev said about his recent North American success.
Zverev will be seeded fourth at Flushing Meadows, becoming the highest seeded German in the draw since Tommy Haas in 2002. He has already scored six wins over top 10 players this season and hopes to carry that momentum into the last grand slam of the year.
“I feel very confident how I am playing right now. And I think going into the US Open, I feel the best I have ever felt maybe going into a Slam. That gives me a lot of confidence, and hopefully I can show that on court, as well.”
Borna Coric knows what it is like to be labelled as the next big thing. Before his 19th birthday, he defeated both Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray as well as breaking into the world’s top 40. Since then, he descent on the tour has been halted by a series of injury setbacks and disappointing results on the tour. Since reaching the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open in May, he has failed to win back-to-back matches in seven consecutive tournaments. Ending his streak in Winston-Salem this week.
“I think I need to improve basically every part of my game.” He told Ubitennis in May. “Especially forehand and also the backhand is sometimes lacking consistency as well. I think every part of the game I see where I can improve and how I can improve, I just need some time.”
Despite Coric’s talent, which has seen him win one ATP and two Challenger titles, he is yet to reach the last 16 of a major event.
21-year-old Karen Khachanov is very much a work in progress. He has the ability to keep up with almost every player on the tour with use use of his powerful shots, but consistency eludes him. Illustrated by his current win-loss record of 25-24 this season. At a career best of 29th, he is the second youngest player currently in the top 30.
“It’s good for tennis that the next generation is coming and rising up. I’m just trying to focus on myself and keep moving forward.” The Russian said during an interview with wsopen.com
There is also a contingent of American rising stars eager to shine at their home major. In the world’s top 100, there are three Americans under the age of 21. Jared Donaldson, who reached the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Masters, leads the trio at 51st in the world. The other two are Frances Tiafoe (71) and Ernesto Escobedo (77).
“Just knowing [from last year] that I can hang with these guys and that my getting stronger and fitter really has made a difference, gives me a lot of confidence,” Donaldson said about his journey on the tour.
As the ATP heavy markets their Nextgen campaign, which promotes players under the age of 21, this year’s US Open could turn some of those players from boys to men. A prospect that promises to make up for the loss of some of the sport’s biggest names.
