DARK HORSES
With good results over the last month, these players are ready to challenge the top stars for the US Open crowns
MARIN CILIC
The 27-year-old won his first Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati beating Wimbledon and Olympian champ Andy Murray, and reentered the top 10.
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO:
He had stunned Roger Federer to win the title here in 2009 but since then, he’s been plagued by wrist injuries. The Argentine rejoined the tour full time this year and won the silver in Rio beating Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal on the way. Ranked 142nd, he needed a wild card to get in.
GRIGOR DIMITROV
The 25-year-old Bulgarian reached the semis at Cincinnati. Since Wimbledon, he has been working with Dani Vallverdu and the results look promising.
MADISON KEYS
After losing to Simona Halep in the Montreal final, she reached the semis at Rio and then lost a heartbreaking match for the bronze medal to Petra Kvitova.
MONICA PUIG:
At 22, she made history by winning Puerto Rico’s first Olympic gold medal, defeating three former Grand Slam champions (Garbine Muguruza, Petra Kvitova and Angelique Kerber) along the way. Seeded 32nd, she will be a dangerous presence in the draw.
KAROLINA PLISKOVA
At Cincinnati she lost four games the semis against Muguruza, then beat Kerber in the final in nearly every baseline exchange.