What Top Tennis Stars Must Prove at the 2015 US Open
The 2015 U.S. Open Series has passed through all four corners of the country and even into Canada as it builds toward a climactic finish in New York.
There’s nothing quite like action under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium. These upcoming September nights will be filled with intrigue and excitement as the players battle for a piece of history.
And this year’s U.S. Open will take on added importance as Serena Williams fights to win a calendar Grand Slam. Will she be able to deal with the pressure and thwart her rivals?
Williams is not the only highly ranked woman with something at stake in New York. Her peers also face crucial questions as they try to unseat the world No. 1.
The men’s side looks to be more wide open as Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray position themselves as the favorites. But they’ll have to battle one another and a few other hungry stars eager to dethrone last year's unexpected champion, Marin Cilic.
Here is a deeper look at several of the top players and what they have to prove at the U.S. Open. Get ready for a wild and crazy fortnight of tennis.
Rafael Nadal: When Will His Slump End?
1 of 11
A long and rocky 14 months have passed since Rafael Nadal claimed his ninth French Open title. During that span, he’s yet to record another signature victory or capture any titles of note.
The confounding losses keep piling up, no matter how hard the Spaniard tries to improve his fortune. And his recent performances show that the light at the end of the tunnel is dim.
Brushed aside easily by Kei Nishikori in the Montreal quarterfinals, Nadal entered Cincinnati desperate to build momentum. Instead, he couldn’t withstand the serving barrage from his compatriot, Feliciano Lopez, in a third-round loss.
By now, it’s fair to wonder whether we’ll ever see the Nadal of old. He’s still only 29, yet his body has paid a hefty cost for so many years of ferocious play.
Many players would be satisfied with a 42-14 record and three titles, but those statistics represent a decline for Nadal. He’s yet to truly look like himself this season, struggling with all facets of his game and even his confidence.
Will he flip the switch in New York? It’s possible but shouldn’t be expected based off the way he’s played lately.
Even if a third crown in Flushing Meadows isn’t a realistic prospect for Nadal at this point, how he performs during the upcoming fortnight will be very important for him. If he’s to eventually break out of this slump, he needs to at least show some signs of progress against his top rivals.
Caroline Wozniacki: Can She Replicate Her Run from Last Year?
2 of 11
Caroline Wozniacki still yearns for a first Grand Slam title and validation. But as another season passes by, the 25-year-old Dane doesn't seem especially close to making that dream happen.
Her best result at a major in 2015 is a fourth-round run at Wimbledon. For a player who has been a mainstay at the top of the rankings for so long, you expect more from her than such paltry results.
Fortunately for her, the U.S. Open is the place she's had her most success at a major. In total, Wozniacki has reached the semifinals four times in the last six years, including runner-up finishes in 2009 and 2014.
She fell short against the dominant force that is Serena Williams in last year's final. Now, she has the burden of trying to defend all those points.
While she's not in danger of falling very far in the rankings even with a poor result, Wozniacki faces added expectations to do well in New York. Failing to meet them would only make the doubts about her amplify.
Stan Wawrinka: Can He Block Outside Distractions?
3 of 11
Thanks to a now infamous on-court spat with Nick Kyrgios in Montreal, Stan Wawrinka’s had a lot on his mind lately. Will that distraction derail his quest to add a second major this season?
Though he unsurprisingly vowed not to let that dispute hang over his head, there’s no denying it brought unwarranted negative attention to him and the sport.
Signs of mental strain showed in Cincinnati, where the Stanimal looked surprisingly tame. After barely surviving stiff tests from teenager Borna Coric and hard-serving Ivo Karlovic, Wawrinka was thoroughly outplayed by Novak Djokovic in a straight-sets romp.
He’ll head to the U.S. Open with only two wins since Wimbledon. A notoriously streaky player to begin with, Wawrinka may struggle to regain his rhythm on the fast courts in New York.
When his game is working, few players can withstand his baseline fury. We’ll soon find out if Wawrinka can block out the noise to actually unleash that power.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Petra Kvitova: Is She Fully Healthy?
4 of 11
When Petra Kvitova conquered Madrid a few months ago, it was supposed to be the harbinger for a huge summer.
Instead, the Czech has watched her results flounder.
Exits before the quarterfinals at both the French Open and Wimbledon put extra emphasis on her current U.S. Open Series run. And so far, the slide continues.
Diagnosed with mononucleosis, Kvitova played Toronto and Cincinnati at less than 100 percent. She certainly looked to be in a malaise as she dropped her opening match at each tournament.
Heading to New York with little match preparation, Kvitova's health is the larger issue. Put those factors together, and it's a stretch to see her seriously contending for the title.
Kei Nishikori: Will His Body Hold Up?
5 of 11
Kei Nishikori's run to last year's U.S. Open final was unexpected yet wildly inspiring.
Ultimately, he couldn't withstand the red-hot Marin Cilic, but reaching his first Grand Slam final marked a firm step forward for the young Japanese star.
This time around, he'll have a sizable target on his back as he tries to defend all those points. Working against his favor? More injuries.
Nishikori is building a reputation for being brittle. His latest maladies include a calf injury suffered during the grass-court season and a banged-up hip that forced him to pull out of Cincinnati.
When he's healthy, Nishikori is a fearless competitor with a beautiful game. But too often, his body intervenes and doesn't allow him to get the most out of his potential.
We'll soon find out if he can remain injury-free long enough to mount another strong result in New York.
Maria Sharapova: What Is the Status of Her Injured Right Leg?
6 of 11
When Maria Sharapova steps up to the line for her first match at the U.S. Open, two months will have passed since her last on-court appearance.
Unable to compete in Toronto and Cincinnati because of a strained right leg, Sharapova is critically short on match preparation ahead of a tournament where she's struggled in recent years.
Since winning the title in 2006, Sharapova has advanced past the fourth round only once (2012 semifinals) at the U.S. Open. It's the major where's she's had her least success, and it doesn't appear likely she'll be able to reverse that trend this time.
If her leg is OK, perhaps Sharapova can mount a decent run. Just reaching the second week would be a quality result for her considering her long layoff.
Andy Murray: Will He Stand Up to His Rivals When It Matters Most?
7 of 11
By defeating Novak Djokovic in the Montreal final, Andy Murray sent a clear message to the rest of the field that he’s once again a force to be reckoned with on big stages.
Winning that event gave Murray his second Masters Series triumph in the last few months and briefly earned him the No. 2 ranking. While Roger Federer took that spot back after claiming their semifinal battle in Cincinnati, Murray won’t have too much to be discouraged about heading to the U.S. Open.
He’s getting closer and closer to the form that carried him to the Wimbledon crown two years ago. His 56-9 record and titles at Munich, Madrid, Queen’s Club and Montreal represent a clear dichotomy from his rather ho-hum 2014 season.
Moving beautifully around the court again and bullying opponents with his stout first serve and powerful ground strokes, the Scot will head to New York brimming with confidence.
But to storm to a second title there, Murray will potentially face either Djokovic or Federer in the semifinals. Should that happen, he’ll have to either prove that the Montreal win wasn’t a fluke or finally end his skid against Federer—both easier said than done.
Simona Halep: Will She Keep Playing More Aggressively?
8 of 11
Two finals berths at two huge tournaments. Simona Halep has definitely put together a strong warmup for the U.S. Open.
Her first-round defeat at Wimbledon seems to have sparked something in Halep. While she'll never be confused with some of the bigger hitters on tour, it's clear she's made a conscious decision to try to be more aggressive. It's paying off so far.
Granted, she fell just short in both Toronto and Cincinnati. But she's making progress.
Will she be able to keep it up at the U.S. Open? That's the burning question for the pocket-sized Romanian. The only major she's never reached a quarterfinal at, the odds will be stacked against Halep in New York. But if she keeps her foot on the pedal, she may finally go far there.
Roger Federer: Will His Torrid Streak Continue?
9 of 11
He’s 34 years old now, but Roger Federer still has a knack for taking our breaths away with sublime play.
Instead of wallowing after another loss to Novak Djokovic in a Wimbledon final, Federer took time off and went back to the drawing board. He returned in Cincinnati a refreshed and rejuvenated man, sailing past the competition for his seventh title at the event.
Federer was simply flawless at the Western & Southern Open. Not only did he fail to yield a single set, he wasn’t broken all week. That service rhythm helped him glide past Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic in succession and reclaim the No. 2 ranking.
If Federer is to finally end his three-year major drought in a few weeks, he couldn’t ask for better preparation to do so. Whether his body can stand up to the punishment of three-out-of-five-set matches will be something to watch, but his penchant for superb serving and relentless offense should help keep points short.
The newest weapon in his arsenal—ultra-aggressive returns on second serves—could be the key he needs to finally take home an 18th Grand Slam crown.
Once again, Federer is proving the doubters wrong.
Serena Williams: How Will She Manage the Pressure?
10 of 11
It all comes down to the next two weeks for Serena Williams.
In her bid to complete the first calendar Grand Slam since Steffi Graf accomplished the feat in 1988, Williams will have all eyes on her in New York. Just don’t expect that enormous pressure to sink her.
Williams has been virtually unbeatable in 2015, boasting a 48-2 record with five titles, her most recent one coming in Cincinnati, where she lost only one set all week.
Shaking off an unexpected Toronto loss to Belinda Bencic, Williams showcased at the Western & Southern Open why she’s the woman to beat in every tournament she enters.
It’s not just her bruising power and ruthless offensive mindset. What sets Williams apart from her peers is an unmatched level of grit, determination and belief. Those qualities now have her on the precipice of history.
There’s not a player more adept at handling the challenges coming her way than Williams.
Novak Djokovic: Can He Shake off Recent Finals Losses?
11 of 11
It’s not quite time to sound any alarms, but Novak Djokovic’s recent shortcomings in Montreal and Cincinnati have given precious confidence to his top rivals.
At both events, Djokovic had to work hard just to reach the finals. And each time, he suffered a disappointing defeat, the former to Andy Murray and the latter to Roger Federer.
His first loss to Murray since the 2013 Wimbledon final, Djokovic seemed in position for a ninth-straight victory over his Scottish foe. But he faded away at the end of their three-hour Montreal epic.
In Cincinnati, Djokovic needed three sets to outlast David Goffin and Alexandr Dolgopolov to set up a clash with Federer. Perhaps the physical toll of all those matches weighed on him, and Djokovic watched as Federer soared to a relatively routine win.
His quest for a maiden title at the Western & Southern Open continues, but of more importance to Djokovic will be capturing a second U.S. Open championship. So how much stock should we put into these recent defeats?
They may be a warning sign that players like Federer and Murray have narrowed the gap, but Djokovic won’t be panicking. If anything, those losses will motivate him even more to reach a sixth final in the Big Apple.
Provided his arm doesn’t cause him any serious trouble, Djokovic should still be the favorite to walk away with the title.
All statistics are courtesy of ATPWorldTour.com and WTATennis.com unless otherwise noted.
Joe Kennard is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
