Alexander Zverev will take an 11-match winning streak into the US Open after adding the Western & Southern Open title to his Olympic gold medal on Sunday, but still rates Novak Djokovic as favourite to take the title at Flushing Meadow.
The German world No.4 beat Russian Andrey Rublev 6-2 6-3 in less than an hour in Cincinnati to win his second Masters 1000 tournament of the season and fourth title in all. Zverev came up just short of landing his first Grand Slam title in New York when he lost the final to Dominic Thiem last year, but said his preparations this season had been different.
“I was still finding my game during the US Open last year, but it worked well for me,” the 24-year-old told reporters after the final.
“I was pretty close to winning it. But I’m looking forward to what’s in it for me this year, and we’ll see how it is once I arrive there.
“I’m looking forward to it because I know where I stand, I know how I’m playing, and I hope I can continue the work and hopefully play even better in New York.”
The absence of Roger Federer or Rafa Nadal from the US Open presents a good chance for one of the young guns in men’s tennis to snare a Grand Slam title.
I’m looking forward to it because I know where I stand, I know how I’m playing, and I hope I can continue the work and hopefully play even better in New York.
— Alexander Zverev
World No.1 Djokovic, who will be chasing a calendar Grand Slam when the season’s last Major gets under way on August 30, is a considerable roadblock to those ambitions, according to Zverev.
“I do think that he’s still the favourite,” the Olympic champion said.
“I do think he’s going to be playing incredible tennis there. He’s going to be fresh, and I think there are other guys that are in good form.
“Let’s see how it goes ... I still have a lot of work ahead of me. I have to find my rhythm in New York as well.”
Meanwhile, Australian Nick Kyrgios pulled out of his first-round match with Britain’s Andy Murray at the Winston-Salem Open on Sunday due to knee pain but the 26-year-old is confident he will be fit for next week’s US Open.
Kyrgios withdrew from the ATP 250 event in North Carolina in a last-minute call, with lucky loser Noah Rubin replacing him. American Rubin lost 6-2 6-0 to former world No.1 Murray.
World No.85 Kyrgios, who skipped the Tokyo Olympics because he did not want to play in front of empty stands, said he had been dealing with pain in his left knee in the last couple of weeks.
“With the US Open just around the corner, I just didn’t feel it was worth the risk of going out there and possibly making it worse, not giving myself the best shot to perform at the US Open,” Kyrgios told reporters.
“To play Andy Murray, a good friend and tennis icon, would have been amazing but I had to look after my body. And with the Grand Slam next week, I wanted to be more cautious.
“I am playing the US Open 100%, it’s not like I am finishing my season. I needed more time to get right... the best option was to rest it.”
The US Open runs from August 30 to September 12 in New York.
— Reuters
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.