The Top 3 Favourites and Dark Horses for the US Open 2015

The Top 3 Favourites to Win the US Open and the Dark Horses

The fourth and last Grand Slam event of the year is just around the corner, and exciting matches are bound to happen. According to TonyBet bookie, some favourites are very clear, but as last year’s US Open has shown, a dark-horse win can always happen. Here are the top 3 leading players in our opinion – both at men’s and women’s courts – and the extra potential dark horses to watch out for.

Men’s Favourites:

1. Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic is firmly at the top of the ATP rankings. The world‘s no. 1 has already triumphed in two Grand Slam events this year – the Australian Open and Wimbledon – and went through to the finals in the French Open. Even with these results, he lost to Roger Federer in Cincinnati and before that, to Andy Murray in the Montreal Masters, both times playing in the finals. This shows he can be beaten – but he may also be saving up his best form for the US Open.

2. Roger Federer

While Roger Federer hasn‘t had as impressive a year as Djokovic, he still did well in the previous Grand Slam events, climbing up from the third round in the Australian Open, to the quarter-finals in the French Open, to the final in Wimbledon. The Swiss legend has been named 2^nd seed and whilst he lost again to Djokovic in the Wimbledon finals, Federer then beat him in Cincinnati, along with a win against Murray in the semis. He seems to be in brilliant form and has a good chance of winning.

3. Andy Murray

The world‘s no. 3 has won the US Open in 2012 but hasn‘t gone further than the quarter-final ever since. Murray started the 2015 Grand Slam by going to the finals in the Australian Open, followed by making it to the semi-finals in both the French Open and Wimbledon. He managed to beat one of his main contenders, Djokovic, in the Montreal Masters, but afterwards lost to Federer in the semi-final in Cincinnati. Still, he can win the championship if he‘s in good form.

• The Dark Horse:

For a good chunk of promising players, it would be quite a jump to dominate the US Open, however, Grigor Dimitrov looks like the one who just might be able to do it.

Although it‘s admittedly unlikely that the world‘s 17^th would become the champion, his recent loss against Murray revealed that he’s in good enough form and what’s lacking is mostly in his mental game. Dimitrov has competed in all Grand Slam events, going to 4^th round in Australian Open, 1^st in French Open and 3^rd in Wimbledon.

Women’s Favourites:

1. Serena Williams

The phrase “Serena Williams is the only Serena Williams’s real contender” is quickly becoming a big cliché in the tennis world. The world’s No. 1 is in absolutely amazing form, having already won three of the major titles this year and is going for a calendar year Grand Slam. Besides, she’s already won the US Open 6 times, and she’s a three-time defending champion. By now, it’s going to be far more surprising if Williams doesn’t win rather than if she does.

2. Victoria Azarenka

The Belarusian is a former No. 1 and current 20^th seed. She has made it to the US Open finals twice and to the quarter-finals last year. Victoria Azarenka‘s 2015 season is looking very solid so far, and even though Williams looks unbeatable, Azarenka is the one tennis player who could challenge the no.1 – if she‘s in good form. Even with her left thigh injury that had her retire from Cincinnati, Azarenka should be able to play some world-class tennis.

3. Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova hasn’t won a Grand Slam title this year yet, but she made it to the finals at the Australian Open, the semi-finals at Wimbledon and the fourth round at the French Open. She was ranked as the 3^rd seed and should be well rested to play in the US Open, as she hasn’t had any matches since Wimbledon. Sharapova had a good year, and she will be a tough challenge for any opponent in the upcoming tournament.

• The Dark Horse: Belinda Bencic

The world‘s no. 12 is only 18 years old – and yet she managed to beat S. Williams in Toronto on the 16^th of August. Overcoming the world’s no. 1 in an extremely good year – even though it wasn’t in a Grand Slam event – shows that Belinda Bencic has the potential to be the next big name in tennis.

However, in Cincinnati, she had to retire with a right wrist injury. If that doesn’t prevent her from being in good shape, Bencic should be able to shake up the tennis world in the upcoming US Open. The first round of the US Open 2015 starts on Monday, 31^st of August, and the championship will conclude on September 13^th. Marin Cilic is the defending champion in the men’s singles, whilst Serena Williams is the three-time defending champion in the women’s singles. Together, the participating tennis players will share more than 40 million US dollars in prize money.