US Open 2021: The new Grand Slam world of New York
When the gates of the Billie Jean King Tennis Center open this Monday, a new Grand Slam world will appear.
by Jörg Allmeroth
last edit:
Aug 30, 2021, 12:31 pm
The Open American Championships in 2021 mark an epochal change in the professional traveling circus - on the playgrounds in Flushing Meadows, at the gates of the Big Apple. And next to it too. The longed-for return of tennis fans to the US Open arenas after the seemingly eternal ghost games of the Corona era is accompanied by a looming farewell of many influential players of the last two decades - Roger Federer, the Swiss maestro, is absent due to a knee injury. Rafael Nadal, the Spanish matador, is suffering from an injury on his right foot. And the two Williams sisters Serena and Venus, the multiple US Open queens, can only watch the rest of the tour caravan fight for the Grand Slam trophies. "The great upheaval in tennis is really visible here in New York," says John McEnroe, once number one in the scene, "of the absolutely big names, only Novak Djokovic has remained in business for the time being."
In fact, on his historic mission to win the real Grand Slam at this US Open - the trophies for all four majors in one calendar year - the 34-year-old Serb looks like the last of the Mohicans among the giants of the past. With Federer, Nadal and Serena Williams, three greats are absent who have combined 63 Grand Slam victories from the last two decades, plus the withdrawals of defending champion Dominic Thiem and three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka. Djokovic's task of asserting himself against all opponents for the fourth time this season and of writing what might be the greatest coup in modern tennis on Center Court somewhat masks the many bad news from established star players. But the fans still feel sad “when they see the gaps in the field,” says Chris Evert, the grande dame of US tennis: “It's as if loved ones are no longer at the table.” And nobody I know, according to Evert, whether Federer, Nadal and the Williams sisters would ever be seen in New York again.
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Probably the biggest question is with whom Capitano Djokovic will have to do most in his attempt to win the title: With the ambitious competition from the next generations, i.e. with Olympic champion Alexander Zverev, the world number two Daniil Medvedev or Greece's ace Stefanos Tsitsipas. Or with himself, with his consuming ambition, with fluttering nerves. And also the demons of the past, the scandalous appearance of the previous year - the disqualification in the round of 16, in which the number one player was practically dismissed because of an unfortunate ball attack on a line judge. It is also unclear how Djokovic has recovered from the frustrating detour to the Olympic Games, where he lost the semi-final match against Zverev after a comfortable lead and then gambled away the bronze medal against the Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta. “Djokovic is a master at focusing on a new tournament, a new challenge. He can shake that off, he has proven it often enough, ”says Boris Becker, the Serb's former coach.
Zverev and Kerber are involved
Zverev, who followed his Olympic victory with the Masters triumph in Cincinnati, is considered by experts to be the greatest possible spoilsport for Djokovic. "Big victories feed new big victories," says Observer Becker about Zverev, whom he attests to have climbed "to a new level of performance": "And more than ever, he embodies the mentality of a champion who can do everything." Also national coach Michael Kohlmann sees Zverev as a real co-favorite for the title, the gold experience in Tokyo was a “breakthrough”: “Sascha has been running behind this top title for a long time. That was a relief. ”The first opponent of the hamburger will be the American Sam Querrey, Zverev could meet Djokovic in the semifinals at the earliest.
Angelique Kerber, the New York winner of 2016, should also be noted. The former world number one has been coming to this US Open since spring with the recommendation of excellent tournament results - after winning the home competition in Bad Homburg, the 33-year-old reached the semifinals at Wimbledon and recently also at the Masters in Cincinnati. “I don't think anyone wants to play against Angie in New York,” says Barbara Rittner, the DTB's women’s boss. In the opening game, Kerber has to deal with the Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska.
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