US Open 2015

It’s time for another Grand Slam to test the brightest stars in Tennis, this time taking place in the US, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.

Our very own Andy Murray managed a feat that was very close to a record for him, when he finally broke down Novak Djokovic to win the Montreal Masters, meaning he had beat his arch-rival for the first time in two years. The fact that he managed to overturn the man seeded in first for the US Open, means that he is in good contention to do the same this time, but it will certainly not be easy. His first hurdle will consist of controversial Aussie, Nick Krygios, who was fined $10,000 this month for insulting Stan Warwinka’s girlfriend in his match against him. Other instances have seen him insulting umpires and talking back to crowds, but it remains to be seen whether Murray will silence him in the US.

First seed Novak Djokovic knows what will be expected of him in this Grand Slam, and he will be keen to rectify the loss he suffered at the hands of Murray in Montreal. His first step on the road to his own redemption, will be to face off against Joao Souza of Brazil.

Roger Federer looked shudderingly good in Wimbledon this year, producing a pure master class of tennis action against his opponents, up to the point of facing Djokovic, who managed with determination to defeat the Swiss professional. Seeded third this year, he will face Leonardo Mayer in the first round, but could face Stan Warwinka as soon as the Quarter Final.

Defending champion Marin Cilic, who hasn’t been in the best form in 2015, will face off in the first round against a qualifier, perhaps making his entrance into the US Open a little easier.

It is fitting that Serena Williams, who has been storming through Slam after Slam this year, will attempt to go for her first calendar Slam on home turf. The winning of four majors will put Serena in the same category as predecessor Steffi Graf, who last completed the feat back in 1988. It looks extremely likely that Williams, who has been dominant throughout 2015, will make this US Open a record-breaking one. She will face off against Vitalia Diatchenko in the first round.

Romanian second seed Simona Halep last faced off against Serena in the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati, losing in the final. Despite this loss, Halep is seen as the biggest threat to derail the Williams train, but with Williams looking unstoppable this year, it will be a difficult task. She faces Marina Erakovic in the first round.

This will mark the tenth time Maria Sharapova has entered the US Open, although the last time she won the competition was back in 2006. She has had a rocky 2015, but managed to overcome Halep in Rome to win the Italian Open. Now seeded third, she starts off her US campaign facing Daria Gavrilova.