US Open Contenders: The Men

The US Open is almost upon us, and the biggest question may be: Will the world ever get that “Fedal” US Open showdown? It seemed the world No. 1 and world No. 2’s domination in 2017 had to culminate in their first-ever date in New York, especially with so many top players missing in action. It didn't happen thanks to Juan Martin del Potro.

But many dangerous players are back now, and one man in particular will look to foil them both, as he has for the better part of the last decade. A long list of players stands between the Big Three and final major of the year, though. Here’s a glance:

1

Kei Nishikori

One of the quieter comeback stories of the year, Nishikori has steadily played his way into form. He enjoyed a solid clay-court season and a quarterfinal bid at Wimbledon—his best finish at that event. Now back up to No. 23 in the world, he’s looked more and more comfortable on the court. He’ll be a serious threat at the US Open, where he was once a finalist.

2

John Isner

Can Isner’s dream season continue? He captured his first ATP Masters 1000-level title in Miami, made his first Wimbledon semifinal—achievements long in the making—and took home his fifth Atlanta title. Now ranked No. 9 in the world, can he take one more 7-foot step and nab his first major in front of the hometown crowd? He’s withstood pressure this season better than he ever has, but he’ll face a new level of pressure when he gets to Flushing Meadows.

3

Juan Martin del Potro

Del Potro loves New York, the scene of his lone Slam in 2009, and New York loves him. When he gets to Queens this year, he’ll be more than a sentimental favorite. He’s once again at the top of this game, contending for the biggest trophies. A repeat of his semifinal run last year seems likely.

1

Roger Federer

By the time he reached last year’s US Open, Federer looked out of gas, falling in the quarterfinals to Del Potro. His decision to skip Toronto this year could pay off handsomely, especially if he finds himself in another early-round tussle like his five-set match with Frances Tiafoe last year.

2

Rafael Nadal

Nadal’s another player who’s benefited from an abbreviated season. After skipping the spring hard courts to rehab his hip, he's looked fresh as a daisy on both clay and grass. After some much-needed R&R, he conquered Toronto and then skipped Cincinnati. He'll be ready to go to defend his title in New York.

3

Novak Djokovic

He’s back … right? After proving he’s still got it at Wimbledon, not even Djokovic knows whether the brilliance he displayed in his semifinal classic with Nadal is sustainable. He’ll be reassured that, when he's won Wimbledon in the past, he's gotten at least as far as the US Open semis. That's bad news for the rest of the field.

Marin Cilic & Kevin Anderson

In the Big Four era, it’s rare for players outside that elite club to reach multiple Slam finals in a calendar year. As good as they’ve been of late, Cilic and Anderson have played a ton of tennis this season. They’ll have to battle the mental and physical fatigue of a long season as much as the draw.

Mackenzie McDonald​

Any number of American players in the Top 100 could have landed this spot, but on the strength of his first-round match with Andy Murray at the Citi Open, the 23-year-old deserves a mention. He moves extremely well, possesses a stellar backhand and maybe most important, he’s got a little swag. If not for a little mishap at the net, he might very well have toppled Murray's comeback bid. As it stands, he’s ranked No. 81 and climbing. A Cinderella run to the second week would hardly be a surprise.

Andy Murray & Stan Wawrinka​

Though they're both past champions, Wawrinka and Murray are likely not ready yet to pose a serious threat again at the US Open. Hard courts are especially unforgiving of the injuries they're rehabbing—a knee for Wawrinka and a hip for Murray. For now, they’ll take any matches they can get to rebuild their form and fitness—win or lose.