Why the US Open is harder to predict in 2018 than ever before

This report was published on the Eurosport website. You can read it at: https://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/why-the-us-open-is-harder-to-predict-in-2018-than-ever-before_sto6882558/story.shtml

The build-up to the US Open is well and truly underway, with both men's and women's draws seemingly wide open at this stage.

n the men's draw, second seed Rafael Nadal seeks to defend his crown, while in the women's, home favourite Sloane Stephens will hope to shake off her malaise and retain the title she picked up last year: her first Grand Slam.

But this year, more than in any other in recent memory, the two competitions appear to be wide open.

Nadal comes into the tournament in fairly good form, after reaching the last four at Wimbledon, but Novak Djokovic is on a roll after winning his fourth title at SW19, where he defeated Kevin Anderson in straight sets in the final.

Another star name that has a point to prove is third seed Alexander Zverev, who performed poorly at Wimbledon, knocked out in the third round by Ernests Gulbis in five tough sets. The big-serving 6'6" German prefers the hard courts and the speed of the courts at Flushing Meadows could aid him in his quest for a first Grand Slam title at senior level.

For the Brits, Andy Murray makes his much-anticipated Grand Slam return after pulling out of Wimbledon at the 11th hour, and he will come into the tournament buoyed by his good performances in Washington at the Citi Open, where he defeated British number one Kyle Edmund en-route to the third round, where he cried after a gruelling encounter with Marius Copil in round three. The match didn't end until 3am local time, and Murray subsequently withdrew from all upcoming competition to preserve himself for the Cincinnati Masters and Flushing Meadows at the end of the month.

Kyle Edmund has also been performing well, with his booming groundstrokes a nightmare for many of his opponents, including Murray when the two met in round two of the Nature Valley International at Eastbourne, which Edmund won in straight sets, 6-4 6-4.

The Yorkshireman, if he continues to develop and work on his composure when closing out tight matches, could well be in with a shout at this year's final Slam, should he receive a favourable draw.

One, of course, cannot count out veteran superstar Roger Federer, who, despite crashing out surprisingly at SW19 at the hands of Kevin Anderson, will still be a genuine threat to Rafa Nadal's trophy defence, if the Swiss can translate his grass-court form into the hard-court season.

One man that could stop a Nadal, Federer or Djokovic repeat could be former champion Juan Martin del Potro. The Argentine won Flushing Meadows back in 2009, defeating the mighty Fed, and currently he shares the record for being the tallest ever Grand Slam champion, standing at 6'6", alongside 2014 US Open winner Marin Cilic.

The big-hitting Argentine could well be the main threat to the big three, and could end up facing Novak Djokovic, the 10th seed, and Alex Zverev, the third seed, on his potential road to the final.

Home favourites Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens, both finalists last year, will be back and ready to compete again after both had disappointing grass court seasons, while Petra Kvitova is back as sixth seed as she resumes her comeback from the knife attack that ruled her out for five months with ruptured tendons and nerves in her stronger left hand.

Johanna Konta again leads the British effort, but she will have to do so at 43 in the world - thus not seeded. She has started her season well however, dealing Serena Williams her heaviest defeat in her career at the Silicon Valley Classic, 6-0 6-1, but she lost her way somewhat in Montreal, defeating Jelena Ostapenko but falling to Elina Svitolina in her second match that day 6-3 6-4.

Number two Katie Boulter fell at the first hurdle in Montreal, going down 6-4 6-2 to Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko, but Britons have reason to be excited for their women's tennis future, with promising names full of potential like Boulter, Harriet Dart and Naomi Broady leading the charge.