Monday 29 August 2016 16:14, UK
Novak Djokovic's dominance is being questioned ahead of his US Open title defence, with Sky Bet making him odds-against for the first time this year.
The Serb has been odds-on to win every event he's entered in 2016, with such faith justified by him winning seven out of 10 tournaments heading into Wimbledon.
However, shock defeats at SW19 and then the Olympics have raised doubts over his supremacy, with personal issues and a wrist problem helping opponents punch a hole in Nole's infamous defence.
Those two concerns have seen the form force Andy Murray cut as short as 15/8 to win the season's final major, with a favourable draw providing further encouragement for his backers.
However, while the Scot profited from Djokovic's early exits at Wimbledon and then Rio, the head-to-head picture is still a bleak one and the lack of convincing alternatives means layers of the world No 1 are essentially relying on him not being 100 per cent.
The fact that he missed practice prior to Friday's draw implied that's the case, while he did little to talk down the issues in his pre-tournament press conference, also revealing that personal issues had troubled him at Wimbledon.
However, 10 victories from the 14 hard-court events entered in the last 52 weeks and five of the last seven Grand Slam titles suggest that if Djokovic is fit enough to compete then he should be odds-on to claim a third US Open crown.
He's also won 13 of his last 15 encounters with Murray so I simply cannot oppose him with such short odds on the Scot, who will probably be a bigger price come the final if the Serb awaits.
I've little doubt that Murray will come through his half despite looking fatigued in his Cincinnati Masters final defeat to Marin Cilic. He's simply too confident and consistent for those in his path.
Kei Nishikori is seeded to await Murray in the quarter-finals finals but has lost seven of their eight encounters, while Stan Wawrinka, the bottom half's second seed, has failed to beat a top-10 ranked player in 2016.
Juan Martin del Potro is the other interesting one from that section, having been handed a wild-card after his final run at the Olympics, with bookmakers considering him among the second tier of contenders at a top price of 22/1.
That batch is headed by Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic as 16/1 third favourite, with Rafael Nadal and Cilic 20/1 and 22/1 respectively and also in the top half.
Raonic and Cilic are interesting options for contrasting reasons, with Raonic proving 'Mr Consistent' again in 2016, beating those below him but struggling against the top players, while Cilic has upsets in his locker but can be vulnerable early on.
Raonic, in particular, should be helped by the fast playing conditions on offer, while the Croatian has been impressive here before, winning in 2014 and last year reaching the semis, showing this is a venue at which he produces the goods.
However, neither are a match for Djokovic on his day and, if his wrist allows, is still a well worthy favourite to triumph at Flushing Meadows and enhance the case for him being considered the greatest hard-court player of all time.
