Ranking the Biggest Surprises so Far at the 2015 US Open
What a wild and crazy opening week we've witnessed at the 2015 U.S. Open.
In the scorching, oppressive New York heat, many top seeds have already fallen by the wayside, either through retirement or by shocking upset.
Sent home were several of the biggest stars in women’s tennis, including Caroline Wozniacki and Ana Ivanovic. And on the men’s side, last year’s finalist Kei Nishikori couldn’t come close to matching that dream run. Only heroic comebacks saved Serena Williams and Andy Murray from similar fates.
But which of these storylines ranks as the biggest surprise of the tournament?
In the following slides, we’ll examine the most notable developments so far at the 2015 U.S. Open. By factoring in their impact on the title and the name recognition of those involved, one of these plot points stands above the rest.
Honorable Mention: The Continuing Antics of Nick Kyrgios
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The threat of a hefty fine and suspension should be an effective wake-up call for any tennis player.
Then again, Nick Kyrgios is already making a career of testing conventional logic.
It’s not that shocking to see the mercurial Aussie continuing to push the boundaries, even in light of his actions in Montreal. But the new ways he leaves us shaking our heads are still interesting.
During the course of his entertaining (to say the least) first-round loss to Andy Murray, Kyrgios played the role of jester to perfection. Losing control of his racket, making curious shot selections and even napping on changeovers; he put on quite a show.
Having a larger-than-life personality is one thing, and individuality deserves to be applauded. Yet Kyrgios hasn’t found the proper balance between self-expression and on-court restraint.
Maybe next year his showmanship can lead to better results in New York.
8. Milos Raonic's Struggles Continue
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Before the 2015 season, many expected Milos Raonic to take that next step and put himself into Grand Slam contention.
The opposite has happened for the 24-year-old Canadian.
Foot surgery knocked Raonic out of the Italian Open and Roland Garros, and he returned less than 100 percent at Wimbledon where he fell in the third round. That theme continued on the hard courts with a second-round loss in Montreal and first-round defeat in Cincinnati.
Bringing little momentum to New York, Raonic struggled through a second-round test against Fernando Verdasco. He pulled it out in four sets, but that match took something out of him.
Against equally hard-serving Feliciano Lopez, Raonic couldn't avenge a Cincinnati loss to the Spaniard and fell this time in three lopsided sets. Battling a back injury throughout the match, the 10th seed looked like a shell of himself.
As big a name as Raonic is, this result ranks as only a mild surprise. Given his recent struggles, his trajectory was already pointing down before the tournament. Yet anytime a player of his caliber exits this early, it's notable.
While he licks his wounds, Raonic would do well to take a break, rest his body and clear his mind after another humbling loss.
7. Bryan Brothers Crash Out in First Round
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For the first time since 2004, the Bryan brothers will close a season without a Grand Slam title.
Just another reminder that all streaks eventually come to an end, even for the greats.
The defending champions won't be leaving New York with a sixth U.S. Open crown after a first-round loss to fellow Americans Sam Querrey and Steve Johnson. If that unexpected dismissal raised eyebrows, so does this statistic: The duo has captured only one of the previous nine major doubles tournaments.
As Bob Bryan told the New York Times' Ben Rothenberg after the match: “The stars didn’t align for us in the majors this year. It was bound to happen at some point, but it was a good 10-year run."
It has been an up-and-down season for the Bryans. While they've won Masters Series events like Miami, Monte Carlo and Montreal, they've had their share of puzzling defeats, including a third-round exit at the Australian Open.
Is time finally starting to catch up to the 37-year-old twins? Stay tuned.
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6. Eugenie Bouchard's Resurgence
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It's still too early to call it a full-fledged return to grace, but Eugenie Bouchard may be on her way to finally ending a wicked slump.
How bad had it become for the 21-year-old Canadian? Entering the U.S. Open, Bouchard had dipped to No. 25 in the rankings courtesy of a paltry 9-17 record and a whopping 10 first-round losses. She hadn't even won consecutive matches since early March.
How quickly things can change.
Perhaps tennis legend Jimmy Connors' presence in her corner has spurred Bouchard. Something has definitely clicked as she finds herself in the fourth round after impressive wins over Alison Riske, Polona Hercog and Dominika Cibulkova.
Pushed to three sets in her last two matches, Bouchard showed a level of grit that seemed to escape her for much of the past six months. She's playing with confidence and an attacking mindset, two traits which carried her in 2014.
Before the tournament, Bouchard's chances to reach the quarterfinals were slim based off her declining results. Now, she'll face off with veteran Roberta Vinci (who easily won their recent meeting in New Haven) for that right.
If she notches some payback, her redemption will be a story to follow in the final week.
5. Rash of Retirements
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Temperatures have soared into the 90s all week as unforgiving humidity turns Flushing Meadows into a blistering sauna.
It's no wonder so many participants have wilted under the sun.
In the first two rounds alone, 14 players retired during a singles match. A dozen of those came on the men's side as notable names like Alexandr Dolgopolov, Gael Monfils and Jack Sock pulled the cord. Socks' cramps were so bad that he had to lay down on the court and eventually be carried off.
Why so many retirements, especially for the men? There are a variety of factors in play.
ESPN's Peter Bodo astutely pointed out that the heat rule in effect at the U.S. Open only applies to the women. For best-of-five-set ATP matches, the conditions can challenge (and conquer) even the fittest of athletes. All those hours on court take a heavy toll on the body.
Some players may even be compelled to mask injuries and just show up to collect a paycheck before retiring. It's a pessimistic thought, but it's one that probably has at least a kernel of truth.
Moving forward into the tournament's business end, Mother Nature could be the wild card if the temperatures keep climbing.
4. Upsets Galore in Women's Draw
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If people filled out tennis brackets like they do for March Madness, the women's version would be covered in red.
Upsets upon upsets have turned the draw into a topsy-turvy mess as a litany of stars have already fallen. In fact, six of the top 10 seeds were shown the door in the first two rounds.
That's what you call chaos.
Among the notable losers: Caroline Wozniacki, Lucie Safarova, Ana Ivanovic, Karolina Pliskova, Garbine Muguruza and Carla Suarez Navarro. And that's not even including Maria Sharapova, who ominously withdrew before her first-round match.
Because of that disorder, things have turned increasingly wide-open as wily veterans and unheralded players look to capitalize on a golden opportunity. Will anyone step up and take advantage?
If the next few rounds continue according to this script, we may be in store for an incredibly unpredictable finish.
3. Andy Murray's Second-Round Scare
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Andy Murray is an avid boxing fan, which is fitting because he was pressed firmly against the ropes in his second-round match.
But not even his opponent's best punches could keep the Scot on the canvas.
Down two-sets-to-love to quirky shotmaker Adrian Mannarino, Murray faced his earliest exit at the U.S. Open since his debut in 2005. After all the momentum he built the past few months, falling here would've been a very bitter pill to swallow.
Like the boxers he looks up to, Murray weathered the storm simply be letting Mannarino tire himself out. That rope-a-dope strategy proved brilliant.
"I just had to kind of tell myself that I would get there eventually," Murray told the Associated Press (h/t ESPN). "I had time to get back into it."
In the brutal weather conditions, Mannarino's magic finally wore off. The last three sets belonged to Murray, who stormed to an emphatic 5-7, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 victory.
So close to leaving Flushing Meadows, Murray now finds himself with new life, thanks to that brilliant comeback.
2. Serena Williams Goes the Distance
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Serena Williams' quest for a calendar Grand Slam nearly came to a sudden and shocking end.
Trailing by a set to Bethanie Mattek-Sands and locked in a deep struggle during the second stanza, Williams' title hopes took a hit during her third-round match. But like she so often does, the world No. 1 showcased her unrivaled fight and determination.
She refused to quit, withstanding a barrage of baseline firepower from Mattek-Sands. The deeper the match went, the more Williams raised her game. When she finally clinched that titanic second set, an air of inevitability descended upon Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Amped-up, Williams cruised through the decisive set on her way to a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 victory. Before the match, few would've expected the score to be that close. Yes, even Williams isn't immune to pressure.
But no player can replicate the sheer will she possesses. Pumping her fists and screaming in rejoice, Williams kept her chase toward history intact.
1. Kei Nishikori's Early Dismissal
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The upset that rocked the men's draw.
Kei Nishikori dazzled New York with his miraculous run last year, toughing out a foot injury to beat Milos Raonic, Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic on the way to his first Grand Slam final. He couldn't seal the deal against Marin Cilic, but that two-week performance ranked as the Japanese star's breakthrough moment.
He wasn't so lucky this time around, dropping a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (6), 4-6 thriller to France's Benoit Paire. Throwing away multiple match points in the fourth-set tiebreak, Nishikori watched as his opponent stole the win from his grasp.
We probably should have seen it coming.
Dealing with calf and hip injuries since June, Nishikori entered the U.S. Open short on match preparation. Not playing Cincinnati left him vulnerable to this type of result, his third-opening round exit in New York.
Both physically and emotionally, Nishikori clearly wasn't at his best. And it's yet another disappointing defeat for a guy picked to at least challenge for his first Grand Slam title this season.
So instead of a dream semifinal rematch with Djokovic, the world No. 4 instead heads back to the drawing board.
All statistics are courtesy of ATPWorldTour.com and WTATennis.com unless otherwise noted.
Joe Kennard is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.
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