The US Open 2014 was highlighted by major upsets in the semifinals. Did the top four learn their lesson?
Novak Djokovic enters the final Grand Slam of the year safe at the no.1 seed while a spirited battle for no.2 between Roger Federer and Andy Murray ensued in the past month.
Djokovic was handed the grand upset in Flushing Meadows last year at the hands of Kei Nishikori. The world's most dominant player in 2015 may have learned his lesson as he seeks to improve his 1-4 standing in US Open Finals.
His first and only US Open title came at 2011 by beating Rafael Nadal. He has never been as dominant as he is this year, and it's high time to grab it.
All of the ATP top four are predicted to make the semifinals, according to The Roar with Roger Federer in a showdown for the title with Djokovic.
Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka would round out the top four. The predictions left no room for possible upsets, unlike last year.
But Bleacher Report notes that Djokovic may not have enough left in the tank to claim the title. He has reached both the Finals in the Motreal and Cincinatti Opens, both tournaments held in August. He lost those matches to Andy Murray and Roger Federer respectively.
Perhaps Djokovic should have skipped one of those tournaments the same way Federer did. Federer looked to be in top form when he tangled with the Serbian, regaining his World no.2 ranking by winning the Cincinnati Open again.
Rafael Nadal, no matter what his standing, is a player to watch. As The Roar noted, he is always a threat in this tournament.
"The Spaniard missed last year's tournament due to injury but will be buoyed by an impressive recent record at Flushing Meadows, whereby he has reached at least the semi-finals in his last five appearances, including reaching the final in 2010, 2011 and 2013, winning in the former and latter years."