10 Reasons why Djokovic Can Win the 2010 US Open
- By Nila A on September 12, 2010 17:12 GMT
Novak Djokovic could win the 2010 US Open title today and effectively thwart Rafael Nadal’s expressed ambition to win the US Open (the only major he’s never won) to complete the career Grand Slam.
Djokovic, the world No.3, is a worthy competitor and certainly, he’ll be no walk in the park for Nadal.
There are several reasons why the Serbian starlet could defeat Nadal today and why he may be the underappreciated bet in the market.
Novak Djokovic is desperately seeking his second major title in two years,
- He’s been knocking on major doors since winning the 2008 Aussie Open, nowhere more so than at the US Open where he was a finalist in 2007 and back-to-back semi-finalist in 2008 and 2009.
- He’s considered one of the best hard courters in the game; 13 of 17 career titles are hard court titles,
- He’s in the midst of a solid season; 44-12 going into the US Open final which includes a semi-final appearance at Toronto (l. to Federer) and a quarterfinal appearance in Cincinnati,
- He beat five-time champion Roger Federer in the semis, saving two match points,
- In beating Federer he snapped a three-match negative trend against the maestro at Flushing, and single-handedly changed the course of history,
- He’s beaten Nadal seven times in his career and every single match win was on hard court; in fact, he leads Nadal 7-2 on hard courts,
- He has a three-match winning streak against Nadal since the 2009 Cincinnati Masters,
- He’s confident, consistent and experienced,
- His parent’s want him to,
Nadal’s last victory over Djokovic on hard courts was at the 2008 Beijing Olympics; Nadal beat Djokovic 6-4,1-6, 6-4 en route to the Gold Medal. Even though bookies are pricing Djokovic as the puppy, Nadal is not underestimating him and he has no doubts about the magnitude of the task ahead.
He’s looking for his first win against the Serbian in two years, on a surface that isn’t his best, on the biggest stage of all and for, perhaps, the most coveted prize of all in the game.
