US Open begins today with key absences, all eyes on Djokovic
Novak Djokovic is well aware that his two-track pursuit of men’s tennis history at the US Open — the first calendaryear Grand Slam in more than a half-century and a record 21st Major title — means all eyes will be on him when he is on court.
Naomi Osaka knows, too, that her return to Grand Slam action for the first time since pulling out of the French Open for a mental health break means she will be the centre of attention as the defending women’s champion — and when she has microphones in front of her.
Players’ mental health will be in focus after the four-time slam winner led the charge for her fellow athletes this year. The 23-year-old withdrew from Roland Garros after being fined and threatened with expulsion for refusing to attend media conferences, which she said had an adverse impact on her mental health and disclosed that she had suffered from depression for years.
In response, The United States Tennis Association (USTA) has announced a mental health initiative for players in partnership with the Mount Sinai Health System.
Top-ranked Djokovic will try to become the first male player to complete the calendar slam in 52 years. Not since Rod Laver in 1969 has the feat been achieved. “I know how big of an opportunity is in front of me,” the Serbian star said. “I’m very motivated to play my best tennis. I’m hugely inspired and motivated by that, no doubt.”
Five past champions won’t be in the field when the showdown begins on Monday on the hardcourts at Flushing Meadows, with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Stan Wawrinka, Juan Martin del Potro and 2020 winner Dominic Thiem absent due to injuries.
That leaves the main obstacles in Djokovic’s path a set of rising 20-something talents trying
to build their trophy hauls: Russia’s second-ranked Daniil Medvedev, Greece’s thirdranked Stefanos Tsitsipas and fourth-ranked Olympic champion Alexander Zverev of Germany.
The roots of Djokovic’s amazing 2021 run go back to last year’s US Open, where he was defaulted out of the tournament in the fourth round against Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta when he struck a ball and it accidentally hit a line official in the throat.
The 34-year-old has not dropped a Grand Slam match this year, beating Medvedev in the Australian Open final, Tsitsipas in the French Open final and Italy’s Matteo Berrettini in the Wimbledon final.
“It’s really fortunate for me and incredible that it’s all coming together in the same year,” he said. “That’s something I didn’t expect but I always dream of achieving the biggest things in sport.”
The men’s Slam has been done only by Australian Laver in 1962 and 1969 and American Don Budge in 1938. “What he achieved this year is something amazing,” Nadal said. “I definitely believe that he can do it, without a doubt.”
Djokovic briefly has held all four Slam titles at once, winning his fourth in a row at the 2016 French Open to complete a career Grand Slam. In his career, Djokovic has won nine Australian Opens, six Wimbledon crowns, two French Opens and the 2011, 2015 and 2018 US Opens. He has spent a record span at world number one, more than 335 weeks, and comes into the US Open not having played since losing the Olympic bronze medal match to Carreno Busta.
Nadal, who along with Federer and Djokovic shares the men’s record at 20 Slam titles, sees no reason why Djokovic won’t finish what he has started. “Well, he already won three. So when you win three, you can win four, without a doubt, no?” Nadal said.