New York: From the pits of despair in Paris, record-setting Novak Djokovic now eyes a third US Open title here where for the first time since Wimbledon last year, the sport’s ‘Big Four’ will be reunited.
Djokovic became the first man to win all nine Masters titles with victory Sunday over Roger Federer at Cincinnati. Having captured, against all the odds, a fourth Wimbledon title in July, the 31-year-old Serb suddenly finds himself as joint-favourite with World No.1 Rafael Nadal to triumph at Flushing Meadows.
Champion in 2011 and 2015, and a five-time runner-up, Djokovic sat out the 2017 US Open to nurse an elbow injury. “It’s a wonderful feeling. It’s been a couple of tough months for me with an injury but then winning Wimbledon and Cincinnati have been a confidence-booster,” Djokovic said.
Djokovic will head for the US Open buoyed by his dominance over his three major rivals as well – he leads Nadal 27-25, Federer 24-22 and Andy Murray 25-11.
World No.1 Nadal, who won the US Open last year to add to his 2010 and 2013 victories, skipped Cincinnati. The Spaniard clinched an 11th French Open in June to take his Majors tally to 17 before falling to Djokovic in a five-set, five-hour 15-minute semifinal loss at Wimbledon.
“Tennis is a high-demanding sport in terms of physical effort,” said 32-year-old Nadal on the eve of the tournament. “I cannot forget that I am older every year.”
Federer also knows that the clock is ticking. The 20-time Grand Slam winner won the last of his five US Opens in 2008. Now 37, Federer would become the oldest New York champion in the Open era should he lift the trophy again September 9.
Despite defending his Australian Open title in January, Federer’s hopes of a ninth Wimbledon were blown apart in a five-set loss to Kevin Anderson in the quarterfinals.
“Hopefully I have a chance after 10 years to do something special again at the US Open,” said Federer, here Monday. “I can’t wait for the US Open to come around.”