U.S. Open: Men and women to watch
Ashleigh Barty gives a thumbs up to fans after defeating Victoria Azarenka during the Western & Southern Open in Mason, Ohio, on Aug. 19. Credit: AP/Aaron Doster
MEN IN PLAY
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
Seeded: 1
Country: Serbia
Age: 34
2021: 38-5 record, 4 titles
Career: 85 singles titles, 20 Grand Slams
2020 U.S. Open: Defaulted, fourth round
Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, returns to Karolina Pliskova, of the Czech Republic, during semifinal National Bank Open women's tennis tournament action in Montreal, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP) Credit: AP/Graham Hughes
Aces: Can overtake Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for most Grand Slam titles in men’s tennis by getting 21st. ... Eyeing a calendar-year Grand Slam, something last accomplished by a man in 1969. ... Exited tournament last year after being disqualified for accidentally hitting a line judge with a ball after losing a game.
Matchup: Could face 2014 runner-up Kei Nishikori in fourth round.
DANIIL MEDVEDEV
Seeded: 2
Simona Halep with the forehand return against Nicole GIbbs during their first round match on Day 2 in the 2019 US Open Tennis Tournament on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019. Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
Country: Russia
Age: 25
2021: 40-10 record, 3 titles
Career: 12 titles, 0 Grand Slams
2020 U.S. Open: Lost in semifinals
*** BESTPIX *** PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 12: Match Winner Barbora Krejcikova of Czech Republic holds the Winners Trophy after the Women's final on day fourteen of the 2021 French Open at Roland Garros on June 12, 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) Credit: Getty Images/Clive Brunskill
Aces: First man other than Djokovic, Federer, Nadal or Andy Murray to be ranked No. 1 or No. 2 since July 2005. ... Ability to make in-match adjustments is as strong as anyone’s in men’s tennis. ... Runner-up to Djokovic at Melbourne Park in February and to Nadal at Flushing Meadows two years ago.
Matchup: Could face 2014 champion Marin Cilic in third round.
STEFANOS TSITSIPAS
Seeded: 3
Country: Greece
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 18: Naomi Osaka of Japan celebrates after winning a point in her Women's Singles Semifinals match against Serena Williams of the United States during day 11 of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 18, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) Credit: Getty Images/Quinn Rooney
Age: 23
2021: 48-14 record, 2 titles
Career: 2021 Singles Titles: 2
Career: 7 titles, 0 Grand Slams
2020 U.S. Open: Lost in 3rd Round
(FILES) In this file photo taken on July 09, 2021 Italy's Matteo Berrettini returns against Poland's Hubert Hurkacz during their men's singles semi-final match on the eleventh day of the 2021 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 9, 2021. - Matteo Berrettini is the first Italian to reach a Wimbledon singles final and will play defending champion Novak Djokovic in July 11, 2021's showpiece event. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) Credit: AFP via Getty Images/GLYN KIRK
Aces: Made breakthrough run to first Grand Slam final at Roland Garros. ... Next major was not as successful: Lost in first round at Wimbledon to Frances Tiafoe. ... Only 3-3 at Flushing Meadows.
Matchup: Faces three-time major champion Andy Murray in first round.
ALEXANDER ZVEREV
Seeded: 4
Country: Germany
Stefanos Tsitsipas in action against David Goffin in their match in the Western & Southern Open in Mason, Ohio on Aug. 14, 2018. Credit: PHILLIP WRIGHT/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutt/PHILLIP WRIGHT/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
Age: 24
2021: 38-11 record, 4 titles
Career: 17 titles, 0 Grand Slams
2020 U.S. Open: Runner-up
Aces: Won fifth Masters 1000 title at Cincinnati. ... Blew a two-set lead against Dominic Thiem in the 2020 U.S. Open final before losing in a fifth-set tiebreaker. (Thiem is not entered this year because of a wrist injury).
Mandatory Credit: Photo by JUSTIN LANE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (10404711as) Daniil Medvedev of Russia hits a return to Rafael Nadal of Spain during the men's final match on the fourteenth day of the US Open Tennis Championships the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 08 September 2019. The US Open runs from 26 August through 08 September. USA TENNIS US OPEN 2019, New York - 08 Sep 2019 Credit: JUSTIN LANE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock/JUSTIN LANE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Matchup: Faces big-serving American Sam Querrey in the first round.
MATTEO BERRETTINI
Seeded: 6
Country: Italy
Age: 25
Mandatory Credit: Photo by WILL OLIVER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (10476149au) Alexander Zverev of Germany returns to Daniil Medvedev of Russia during their round robin match at the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament in London, Britain, 15 November 2019. ATP World Tour Finals in London, United Kindgom - 15 Nov 2019 Credit: WILL OLIVER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock/WILL OLIVER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
2021: 33-8, 2 titles
Career: 5 titles, 0 Grand Slams
2020 U.S. Open: Lost in fourth round
Aces: Made first major final at Wimbledon before losing to Djokovic. ... Has a classic big-hitting game built on booming serves and forehands.
Matchup: Could have a rematch against Djokovic in quarterfinals.
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WOMEN IN PLAY
ASHLEIGH BARTY
Seeded: 1
Country: Australia
Age: 25
2021: 40-7, 5 titles
Career: 13 titles, 2 Grand Slams
2020 U.S. Open: DNP
Aces: Sat out last year’s U.S. Open because of the pandemic. ... Won second major trophy at Wimbledon. ... Won hard-court title at Cincinnati. ... 14-1 vs. top 20 this season. ... Leads tour in match wins and final appearances (6 in 12 events).
Matchup: Could face 2021 Australian Open runner-up Jennifer Brady in fourth round.
ARYNA SABALENKA
Seeded: 2
Country: Belarus
Age: 23
2021: 38-14, 2 titles
Career: 10 titles, 0 Grand Slams
2020 U.S. Open: Lost in second round.
Aces: Never past fourth round at any Slam until her run to the semifinals at the All England Club in July. ... Her powerful game — via serve and groundstrokes — should make her a contender on hard courts. But her career record at the U.S. Open is just 5-3. ... Third on tour in 2021 with 286 aces, but also has most double-faults, 245.
Matchup: Could face 2019 Australian Open semifinalist Danielle Collins in the third round.
NAOMI OSAKA
Seeded: 3
Country: Japan
Age: 23
2021: 17-5, 1 title
Career: 7 titles, 4 Grand Slams
2020 U.S. Open: Won
Aces: Returns to Grand Slam action for the first time since pulling out before second round of French Open for a mental health break. ... 4-0 in Grand Slam finals — the first woman to begin a career that way since Monica Seles 30 years ago — and 12-0 in quarterfinals, semifinals and title matches at majors.
Matchup: Could face 17-year-old American Coco Gauff in the fourth round.
BARBORA KREJCIKOVA
Seeded: 8
Country: Czech Republic
Age: 25
2021: 39-12, 3 titles
Career: 3 titles, 1 Grand Slam
2020 U.S. Open: DNP
Aces: Makes U.S. Open main-draw debut. ... Won singles and doubles titles at the French Open in June and Tokyo Olympic gold in doubles in August. ... Only has six singles appearances at majors.
Matchup: Could meet No. 9 Garbine Muguruza or No. 18 Victoria Azarenka in the fourth round.
SIMONA HALEP
Seeded: 12
Country: Romania
Age: 29
2021: 12-6, 0 titles
Career: 22 titles, 2 Grand Slams
2020 U.S. Open: DNP
Aces: Game keeps developing, built on strong backhand and big serve. ... Got COVID-19 this year. Question: Can she avoid early stumble? Only first-round Slam exit so far came in New York in 2020.
Matchup: Could face 2017 U.S.Open champion Sloane Stephens or 2017 runner-up Madison Keys in the second round.
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