The last man standing at this year’s US Open is a mystery. The pecking order seems to be destabilized, and this includes the “Big Four”: Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray,who, combined, have won 34 out of the last 36 major titles. The defending champion, Nadal, is out with a right wrist injury. 

World number one Djokovic has been playing inconsistently since his Wimbledon victory. If his recent matches are any indication, however, he is in fine form (apart from a few understandable blips in the occasional service game).

Federer has made a comeback after a shaky 2013, reaching four finals in a row and winning his first Masters 1000 title in two years. He has advanced to the fourth round of the US Open while dropping only once set to Marcel Granollers (whom he proceeded to rout 6-1,6-1,6-1 after he dropped that set).

Murray has had a fall from glory after his triumph at Wimbledon last year even though he knocked out the ever-dangerous Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who knocked out four “top ten” players (including Djokovic, Federer, and Murray) in one tournament, a feat that hasn’t happened in twelve years.

If you just go by the odds, Djokovic is the favorite. He’s only won a single match in the US Open warm-up swing. In addition, Federer has the better half of the draw, and Djokovic plays Murray tomorrow. Secondly, Federer made it to the final of both warm-up tournaments for the US Open, and he won one of them. In addition, Federer will be hungry to avenge his loss to Djokovic at Wimbledon. Although I don’t expect it to be a three-set affair, I predict that Federer will prevail over Djokovic in the final in four or five sets.

Written by Sid Menon’17