US Open 2020

Devoid of many top players or not, the USO starts on Monday.

I know some will feel that this is a devalued Slam with so many absentees. But others might reckon there are no asterisks (*) in sport. Jan Kodes, for example, is still 1973 Wimbledon champion despite the mass boycott.

What it does mean is that Djoko looks an almost certain winner in New York this time. I would have put him as favourite even if there had been a full field of players. What does that make him now? Super-favourite, mega-favourite, a shoo-in?

The bad news for Kyle Edmund is that he could face Djoko in the second round. Murray starts against Nishioka and could later meet Dan Evans. Konta begins against Heather Watson, while Cameron Norrie has a tough one against Diego Schwartzman.

Apart from seeing how far Murray can go, probably the only interest in the men's is to see just who will emerge to play Djoko in the final. Or have I got it wrong?

The women's Slams have been unpredictable of late even when everyone turns up so gawd knows who's likely to win this time. You could argue it's all set up for Serena but I don't think anyone is afraid of her any more and each of her recent Slam final performances have been really poor.

In my eyes Djokovic would have been the favourite anyway on his preferred surface. Federer in injured and Rafa does not feel mentally right for the challenge either (his words). As to who else may offer a challenge well the much-vaunted Dominic Thiem and Tsistpas spring to mind.

A tough draw for Edmund but all he can do is concentrate on getting through his first round match and give it his best shot against Novak. At present he isn't in the shape to take Djokovic down.

For Andy Murray it is all about getting matches under his belt and testing his fitness and ability to recover from best of five matches. Ranking points in the bank will help propel him further up the rankings plus he'll find out how much more he can push his body with one hip. The best British challenge is definitely going to come from Jo Konta I would say.

I would not bank on Serena as the auro she once had has fallen somewhat and her age and court speed is not what it once was. She toiled in early rounds I saw in the Southern and Western Open. There are a number of potential winners as has been the way in recent times in women's tennis.

Nadal's not playing (unless he's had a last-minute change of heart). Agree though that the challenge to Djokovic is most likely to come from Thiem or Tsitsipas. Not looked at draw yet. You'd think Zverev ought to do well too though he did lose to Murray recently. On Murray I read he may have to face Felix AA in 2nd round which could be tricky.

Big chance for Serena with some of the top players out, but, if she reaches final can she bring her best?

MrInvisible wrote:Nadal's not playing (unless he's had a last-minute change of heart).  Agree though that the challenge to Djokovic is most likely to come from Thiem or Tsitsipas.  Not looked at draw yet.  You'd think Zverev ought to do well too though he did lose to Murray recently.  On Murray I read he may have to face Felix AA in 2nd round which could be tricky.

Big chance for Serena with some of the top players out, but, if she reaches final can she bring her best?

I think with Andy it is all about feeling his way back into competitive tennis again. Expectations are tempered and it is more to do with how he feels coming through these matches and how competitive he feels and how quickly he can recover from matches. It was an encouraging start this week getting three matches under his belt and beating a World No 7 but he knows it is only the start of a long journey back to competitiveness and its a journey that may very probably never get completed.

The big news ahead of the USO is that Djoko has resigned from the presidency of the ATP players' council and is forming the PTPA (Professional Tennis Players Association).

Rafa has immediately opposed the plan and Federer has said he agrees with Rafa that now is not the time to have any disunity in the sport.

Djoko says he's not trying to set up a rival to the main tour organisation and wants the two bodies to work together. But. of course, some will think this is the Serb's attempt to take over the running of professional men's tennis.

Andy M is not keen on the move, either. He's a great defender of the women's game and Djoko's plans seem to be male-only.

Can't really fathom where Djoko's head is in all this. He's number one, making an absolute fortune and doing well out of a system that, although not perfect, is reasonably popular with most of the players.

Djoko might argue his plans give more power to the players and that this could benefit the lower-ranking guys. It might be argued that his move comes from his obsession with being loved and being thought of as a great bloke.

Perhaps he should take a leave out of Sampras's book. Pete let his tennis do the talking. He just got on with it. No fuss.

Incredible fightback from Norrie to beat 9th seed Schwartzman from two sets down. He was also a break down on two occasions in the final set, and had to survive two match points.

Yes, terrific effort from Norrie who also came back from two sets down in a DC match a couple of years ago.

Having played the 9th seed, Norrie now takes on a guy ranked 103.

Kyle Edmund came thru a tough one against Bublik. He lost the first set, won two tight sets before running away with it in the fourth. Next up.....Djoko!

All the rest of the Brits play today, with Andy M first on the main show court at 5pm UK time against Japan's Nishioka. At least one GB win is guaranteed, with Konta taking on Heather Watson.

Isner had a tough opener against Steve Johnson and went down in a final-set tiebreak. Osaka was taken to three sets but went thru but Coco Gauff is out.

A great win for Norrie that. He dug in really well and pulled himself back from the brink. He will feel a better player for winning a match like that. Also Edmund looked very good against Bublik who can prove a tricky customer. Djoko cruised through in straight sets and Tsitspas and Goffin also negotiated the first round safely.

Murray in deep trouble against Nishioka. Nishioka leads 6-4 6-4. Credit to Nishioka playing great whereas Murray for whatever reason is just not firing. Murray's malaise I'd put down to a number of things. A bit of nerves/tension being as he has been out for so long from slams plus Murray has not played Nishioka and Murray tends to take time to work players out in first matches. He also seems strangely flat. Nishioka has been like Murray returning lots and sticking around in rallies and has reaped the rewards. In the current showing no way back for Murray.

It's about time for Murray to retire now, not sure what he's getting out of being an also ran.

Murray, a break down in the third set, sticks in finds some fluency and fight to take the third set 7-6. Much better from Andy.

Catching parts of this on visits from the cricket : delighted to see Murray take the third set via the tiebreak

Life in the old dog yet...

Jo Konta takes the first set against Heather Watson 7-6.

Another tie break ...and we're into a fifth set

Can he complete the come back ?

Gutsy stuff from Murray. Saves a match point earlier in the fourth set and takes it in the tie-break. Level at two sets all. After approaching four hours play.

Murray getting treatment on a toe injury. Konta beats Watson in straioht sets. Evans off to a flyer 3-0 up on Brazilian Wild.

Cricket finished so I can concentrate on this now...

Win or lose Murray has surely shown he is a bit more than the "also ran" that Soul was dismissing earlier. Coming back after the hip job was always going to be hard...but here he is still battling away after four hours plus. He is a real fighter

alfie wrote:Cricket finished so I can concentrate on this now...

Win or lose Murray has surely shown he is a bit more than the "also ran" that Soul was dismissing earlier. Coming back after the hip job was always going to be hard...but here he is still battling away after four hours plus. He is a real fighter

Plus considering he has been off the circuit for so long and beat a World No 7 last week.

He's done it

Well that was phenomenal. What a comeback by Andy Murray. That match encapsulates his career. Tremendous guts and fitness shown too. Commiserations to Nishioka - a tough little opponent who is on the rise.

Terrific match ...credit to Nishioka too. But Andy will take a lot from that magnificent comeback .

Hope he recovers well from this one : 4 hours 40 , was it ?

alfie wrote:Terrific match ...credit to Nishioka too.  But Andy will take a lot from that magnificent comeback .

Hope he recovers well from this one :  4 hours 40 , was it ?

Something like that.

That would have been a remarkable enough comeback with two hips - but with one.

Andy is not in the nick/shape to win here. Its about rebuilding his career which looked shattered 18 months ago. These are small steps and every ranking point won fires him up the rankings and gets fitness back and helps with match sharpness.

Another Murray Slam epic. Incredible win. Good soak in the bath now.

Evans well on his way to the Second Round leading by two sets to love.

Felix Auger-Aliassime the young Canadian and No 15 seed will play Andy Murray in the Second Round. He beat Tiago Monteiro in four long sets in a match lasting a few minutes short of four hours.

A win in five sets for Marin Cilic.

Evans beats Seyboth Wild 6-2 6-1 7-6 in two and a quarter hours.

Andy Murray has now completed 10 comebacks from 2 sets down which is the most in Open era.

Gutsy stuff from Murray yesterday. Not an easy match against F A-A coming up, with the Canadian also having a long, tough match in the first round.

Can't see any hope for Edmund against Djoko today, although you could argue that Novak must be due for a real stinker ere long.

sirfredperry wrote:Gutsy stuff from Murray yesterday. Not an easy match against F A-A coming up, with the Canadian also having a long, tough match in the first round.

Can't see any hope for Edmund against Djoko today, although you could argue that Novak must be due for a real stinker ere long.

As I said yesterday at the moment for Murray it is little steps. It is almost like he is starting his career all over. He needs to rebuild match fitness, confidence in his health and ability to push himself. I'd be very surprised if he wins tomorrow but as I say he is at the start of the comeback trail.

The Edmund V Djokovic match is an interesting one. Djokovic has side issues (neck injury and his off-court plans) so that may impact him. Edmund looked like he has beefed up nd added better court mobility to his game so it could be closer than some thing especially if he can get inside Novak's mind. That being said I'd tip Djokovic to win in four sets.

SFP - I sent you a message regarding journalism. Didn't post it here because thought it would disrupt this thread.

Solid start from Kyle. Leads 3-2 and going with serve.

Coming to the business end of the first set and Edmund answering the questions being asked of him by Djokovic. He leads 5-4 and still on serve.

You feel that Edmund has to win this first set. But in game 11 his first serve has deserted him.

Edmund dug deep at 0-30 and holds serve to lead 6-5.

A comfortable hold for Djokovic and we go to a first set tie-break as we approach the hour mark.

Edmund had a mini-break early on but gifted it back. 3-3

Well well well. Edmund takes the first set tie-break 7-5. He leads Djokovic after a 68 minute first set. Great standard.

Fantastic set of tennis played by Edmund, utilising that brilliant forehand as much as he can. Djokovic oddly passive on a lot of the mid-long rallies, and making a few more errors than you'd expect, too.

If Edmund can keep this up for another two hours...

The key for Edmund in this set is to stay with Djokovic. No doubt Novak will be looking for and maybe expecting a drop-off in Edmund's level. If that drop-off doesn't happen then Djoko will get tight and Edmund may get his chance to break.

And Djokovic breaks to lead 3-1. The turning point me thinks.

Djokovic has control of this second set. He leads 5-2. Edmund needs to rediscover his first set form and intensity.

A sniff of a break back for Edmund at 0-30.

But Djokovic won't be denied. He wins the second set 6-3. And we are level at one set-all. Something tells me Djokovic will go through the gears now.

And like the second set a dip from Edmund and Djokovic breaks to lead 6-7 6-3 2-1.

This break should have been great for injury prone players that needed a bit of rest and recuperation.

Are there any signs that Kyle Edmund is going to reach the next level?  Apart from a semi-final in Australia 2018 his subsequent level in grand slams have been:
2018 (SF) 3R 3R 1R
2019 1R 2R 2R 1R
2020 1R .... Pandemic ...

No name Bertie wrote:This break should have been great for injury prone players that needed a bit of rest and recuperation.

Are there any signs that Kyle Edmund is going to reach the next level?  Apart from a semi-final in Australia 2018 his subsequent level in grand slams have been:
2018 (SF) 3R 3R 1R
2019 1R 2R 2R 1R
2020 1R .... Pandemic ...

I will reserve judgement. Harsh to judge Edmund against one of the all-time greats in Djokovic. A kinder draw here and he could have gone pretty deep.

Wheels coming off though Djoko leads 4--1 in the third set.

And Djokovic takes an.odd third set and he leafs 6-7 6-3 6-4. I see no way back for Edmund now.