ANALYSIS: Is this the weakest grand slam in recent history? Sizing up the US Open field
After a pandemic stopped play in March, the strangest tennis season in memory jumps back into full swing with the US Open, starting tomorrow.The New York major, typically the final of the big four tournaments in the tennis year, is the second of three grand slams in 2020. Nearly as notable as who will be there is who won't, with scores of talented men and women staying at home.
The withdrawals came nearly as hard and fast as the confirmations, with the top two players on the WTA Tour and defending champion Bianca Andreescu pulling out.So far, 29 female players have pulled out — including replacements for other withdrawn players. Fourteen women's seeds will be missing — the largest number in the last 30 years.
If both play, they will escape seeing a top-eight player until the quarter-finals — if they make it that far. Williams' form has been patchy since tennis has resumed, with losses to Shelby Rogers and Maria Sakkari in the past month. But she has always risen for the big tournaments, and is still able to blow away any opponent on her day.With the top two players in the world and the reigning champion opting out of the tournament, the potential for a surprise winner is greater than ever.
So far, 14 players have withdrawn from the tournament — the most since the 2018 French Open. It's rare to see so many players opt out, but especially so many stars.A key reason why more top players are choosing to sit out has to do with the financial structures of professional tennis. With prizemoney in tennis steeply slanted to reward the top players — the stars and players with longer pro tenures — have more flexibility to take a financial hit.
According to Jeff Sackman's Match Charting Project, Djokovic has sported one of the most potent forehands in the game — either ending points or setting up the kill.
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