#US Open 2020: Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic and others to watch

Serena Williams

The 38-year-old legend doesn’t appear in championship form — as she lost early in the two WTA tune-up events, in Louisville and Queens, cramping up in the third set Tuesday night. But she saves her best for the Open and is on a quest to tie Margaret Court with 24 Grand Slams. Tennis insiders believe tying/breaking the record is the only reason she’s still playing. With six of the top-10 players not here, this might be her last chance despite a rugged quarter of the draw. Not having fans rooting her on could actually help her to not become too volatile.

Karolina Pliskova

With the absences, Pliskova became the No. 1 seed, but one of the shakier ones in Open history. The unpredictable nature of the pandemic Open because of the five-month layoff is severe, and she’s the poster girl. The 2016 Open finalist lost in the first round of this week’s WTA tune-up. The 6-foot-1 Czech Republic baseliner has been known to be erratic.

Naomi Osaka

The 22-year-old Japanese/Haitian star created headlines by announcing she would forfeit her WTA semifinal match Thursday in support of the ongoing fight for racial justice. Instead organizers postponed all action. Then Osaka forfeited Saturday’s final to rest her aching hamstring. In June, Osaka, the 2018 Open champion, traveled to Minnesota to join the George Floyd protests. Osaka has wondrous strokes but the 10th-ranked Boca Raton resident sometimes can be mentally weak.

Coco Gauff

The 16-year-old rising star is up to No. 52 in the rankings after bursting onto the scene in 2019 with a fourth-round showing at Wimbledon followed by a third-round advance in Flushing. Her bid was ended by Osaka, who could face her in the third round again. Gauff is amid a touch of a sophomore jinx, and doesn’t seem to have improved her forehand and substandard second serve. Still a year away — her development hurt by 2020’s shutdown.

Kim Clijsters

Back from retirement, the Belgian three-time Open champion, now 37, was red-hot in July’s World Team Tennis competition before an abdominal strain. Tennis insiders wonder if she can pull off a storybook run with that injury. “Great story more than great result,” ESPN’s Pam Shriver said.

Novak Djokovic

The Serbian great has more coronavirus positives than losses this year. Djokovic was the center of controversy when he contracted COVID-19 after hosting a tournament in Europe during the lockdown. Despite a stiff neck that needed treatment in the semifinals, he made the Southern & Western Open finals and is 22-0 on the year. With Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer not here and given Djokovic’s meticulous preparation, it’s a plum opportunity to capture his 18th Grand Slam title to move him two behind Federer and one behind Nadal.

Dominic Thiem

Part of the “Next Gen,” the tennis world still is waiting on the 26-year-old Austrian to win his first Grand Slam title. He’s No. 2 seed at a Grand Slam for the first time, and he’s kept busy with summer exhibitions. But he lost in the first round in the ATP tune-up in Flushing.

Daniel Medvedev

The tall Russian was the hottest player on the tour entering the 2019 Open and didn’t disappoint with a run to the finals, in which he took Nadal to five sets. He’s got a spin-laced game, with a lovely, unpredictable backhand.

Reilly Opelka

Shriver believes the 6-foot-11 American could’ve had a big run here if he didn’t hurt his knee last week. With more athleticism than John Isner, he’s the next great American men’s hope. “He could be the next American male to win a major,’’ Shriver said.

Roberto Bautista Agut

Djokovic called the 32-year-old Spaniard the most underrated player on the ATP tour. And that’s before Agut took Djokovic into a third-set tiebreaker Friday night in the ATP tune-up. He’s not flashy — just utterly consistent. The eighth seed has turned into of the toughest outs. He’s been top 30 for six years and cracked the top 10 for the first time last year.