Which players can challenge the favourites at Flushing Meadows this year?
Friday 24 August 2018 12:43, UK
The world's best will descend on New York ahead of the US Open, but aside from the usual favourites we have picked five dark horses who could cause a stir.
Rafael Nadal and Sloane Stephens will defend their titles while Wimbledon champions Novak Djokovic and Angelique Kerber, plus Roger Federer and Simona Halep, are also among the favourites.
Here, we pick out five other players looking to make the headlines in New York...
It is nearly a decade since the Argentinian with the sledgehammer forehand won his only Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows as he blazed his way past Nadal and Federer to win the title. After his career was nearly ended by wrist problems, Del Potro is at a career-high ranking of three and has consistently proved his threat to the biggest names. There would be few more popular winners.
Del Potro has a qualifier first up, but Andy Murray could be a potential opponent in the third round.
What a year it has been for the 6'8'' South African. He took advantage of a kind draw to reach his first Grand Slam final in New York 12 months ago then proved that was no fluke by defeating Federer at Wimbledon before his epic victory over John Isner carried him to another final where Djokovic proved a step too far. The way he has improved at the age of 32 should be an inspiration to the rest of the tour.
The fifth seed opens his Flushing Meadows campaign against American Ryan Harrison and could meet last year's quarter-finalist Andrey Rublev in the second round.
These are heady times for tennis in Greece, a country with very little history in the sport. No one is hotter right now than young Tsitsipas, who has just turned 20. Ranked 91 at the start of the year, he now sits in the top 15 after beating four top-10 players in a row to reach the final of the Rogers Cup in Toronto two weeks ago. His wild hair, flair game and penchant for a diving volley adds up to a very exciting package.
The Greek star opens his campaign against a qualifier and could face the winner of the all-Russian clash between Daniil Medvedev and Evgeny Donskoy in the second round.
The 21-year-old Russian is building up to a tennis masterpiece. She is already on the verge of breaking into the top 10 and rapidly establishing herself as a star of the women's game. Kasatkina possesses a bewildering array of shots that at times leaves her tactically muddled, while the serve has a fluid kick with an occasional flat delivery. But she is improving in every department and has reached the quarter-finals of the last two Grand Slams.
The 11th seed opens up against Tímea Babos of Hungary with a potential clash against Swiss star Belinda Bencic in the second round.
Dutchwoman Bertens made her major breakthrough by reaching the semi-finals of the French Open two years ago and had been regarded as a clay specialist. But the 26-year-old shocked herself by reaching the quarter-finals at Wimbledon and followed that up with the biggest title of her career in Cincinnati last weekend. She must be considered a title contender.
The 13th seed begins her campaign against Czech Kristyna Pliskova with the winner likely to face American Christina McHale.
Who is your dark horse?
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Tennis is back on Sky Sports screens with the Laver Cup in September while we will also have coverage of the ATP Finals in November with every match live on Sky Sports. But first, we will be across the final major of the year in New York as the US Open gets underway on August 27, right through to the final with live blogs, reports, features and reaction.
