US Open 2021: Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Thiem & Co - various preparations
The US Open 2021 is slowly approaching. At the top of the world, the men (inevitably) go very different ways when it comes to preparation.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Aug 06, 2021, 03:18 pm
So far, only one man who can seriously win the title at the US Open 2021 has been able to collect match practice on the American continent: Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard is going a special way in tournament planning, has, unlike his competitor Djokovic, skipped the Olympic Games and hit - for the first time in his career - at the ATP 500 event in Washington, before the ATP Masters 1000 events in Toronto and according to plan Cincinnati should follow.
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Novak Djokovic, on the other hand, is only expected back on the biggest tennis stage at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. A tournament to which the Serb travels as the defending champion to finally drive away the ghosts of the unsuccessful Olympic Games. Because then the last Grand Slam of the year in Flushing Meadows is waiting for the Serbs, in which the Serbs are about nothing less than the historical "Grand Slam", that is, to win all major tournaments in one calendar year.
Zverev paused after gold run
Likewise, the German Alexander Zverev will only serve in Cincinnati, who inflicted a serious defeat on Novak Djokovic in Tokyo on the way to the "Golden Slam" in the semifinals. After winning the gold medal at the largest sporting event on the planet, the native of Hamburg will pause a little longer than initially planned, but will probably be looking for the finishing touches for the US Open in Ohio.
For Zverev, the trip to New York City will also be a return to the place where the 24-year-old suffered the hardest defeat of his career to date. In the previous year. Final against Dominic Thiem. At that time, Zverev was two points away from the dream of the Grand Slam title, gave up a 2-0 set lead in a dramatic final spurt. And had a long time to fall short of this defeat.
Thiem and Federer wobble
The then premiere major winner Thiem will probably not have a say in winning the title this year - if the Austrian competes in the major in Flushing Meadows at all. For the Masters events in Toronto and Cincinnati, the 27-year-old has canceled, from the Thiems team it is said that his appearance is wobbly due to the wrist injury that the Lichtenwörther suffered in Mallorca.
Equally uncertain is the appearance of old master Roger Federer, where it is unclear in any case whether the Swiss will return to the Arthur Ashe Stadium, where Federer was able to celebrate five major titles in total. The 39-year-old veteran also pulled out for the two Masters tournaments in North America, an official statement on the US Open is still pending.
Berrettini pulls out, Tsitsipas attacks
The two debutants in a Grand Slam final this season, Matteo Berrettini and Stefanos Tsitsipas, are also forced to go different ways. Berrettini has to pass in Toronto due to an injury that already forced the Roman to cancel at the Olympic Games, but still appears on the entry list for the Cincinnati ATP Masters 1000 event.
The full preparation, however, will probably be done by Stefanos Tsitsipas, who, together with Daniiil Medvedev and Rafael Nadal, is one of the hottest contenders for the title in Toronto. The Greek was not able to convince after reaching the final at the French Open, lost to Francis Tiafoe in Wimbledon in round one and had to give up in Tokyo surprisingly early.
Medvedev 2019 in the US Open final
These two tournaments were just as disappointing for Daniil Medvedev, who was already close to the US Open title in 2019. The Russian is also one of the top favorites for the major triumph in New York City. And the Russian can also be expected in Toronto next week. Two years ago Medvedev failed in the final of the last major of the year to Rafael Nadal.
It shows that this year the world's elite are (of necessity) pursuing very different paths in terms of preparation for the next big highlight of the tennis year 2021. With Thiem and Federer, two top stars are shaking tremendously, Nadal, on the other hand, takes a lot of time to find his top form. And Novak Djokovic? This will - regardless of preparation - lead to the title in Flushing Meadows.