TOPSHOT – Naomi Osaka of Japan (R) and Serena Williams of the US meet on the web after their 2018 … [+]
AFP by way of Getty Pictures
There will likely be no scarcity of huge names at this 12 months’s U.S. Open
Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams are among the many former champions entered into the ultimate Grand Slam tennis occasion of 2021.
The USTA introduced the fields Wednesday for the match that runs from Aug. 30-Sept. 12 in New York.
Federer, who turns 40 Aug. 8, misplaced within the quarterfinals at Wimbledon and has confronted hypothesis about his retirement since. He not too long ago stated he suffered a “setback” in his proper knee after two surgical procedures and would rehab with the hopes of taking part in the Open.
Prime-ranked Djokovic, who received the Australian Open, the French Open and Wimbledon to tie Federer and Rafael Nadal at 20 majors, will likely be looking for to grow to be the third man to win all 4 Grand Slam singles titles in the identical 12 months. Don Budge in 1938 and Rod Laver in 1969 are the others.
Djokovic can be taking part in on the Tokyo Olympics and will grow to be the primary man to finish a “Golden Slam.” Steffi Graf did it in 1988.
World No. 3 Rafael Nadal, who skipped Wimbledon and the Olympics to relaxation, can be within the subject and could possibly be the most important impediment to Djokovic’s run at a Grand Slam.
Defending champion Dominic Thiem, 2016 winner Stan Wawrinka and 2014 champ Marin Cilic are additionally within the subject.
World No. 2 Osaka has not performed a match since withdrawing after the primary spherical in Paris after refusing to talk with the media whereas citing considerations over her psychological well being. She was fined $15,000 as as outcome. She has since achieved different interviews whereas saying her purpose is to win singles gold on the Tokyo Olympics.
Additionally within the ladies’s subject is Williams, the 23-time Grand Slam champion and soon-to-be-40-year-old who needed to retire from her first-round match at Wimbledon after she slipped on the Centre Court docket grass, injuring her proper leg.
The entry lists embody gamers who make the sector robotically. Gamers nonetheless can withdraw from the match.
Wimbledon champion and No. 1-ranked Ash Barty headlines the ladies’s subject. Osaka, the defending U.S. Open champion, is ranked second forward of Aryna Sabalenka, a Wimbledon semifinalist, and Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion.
This week’s ATP and WTA rankings have been used to find out the entry lists. Seedings will likely be introduced nearer to the beginning of the match.
(The AP contributed reporting)
