(CNN) — Has Roger Federer retrieved from his Wimbledon hangover? Can Serena Williams overcome injury to clinch a singles major?
Even the US Open, the year’s final and fourth important, begins August 26 in Flushing Meadows in New York. An album prize money pot of more than $57 million is now up for grabs at the 139th variant of this Open, including $3.9 million to every singles champion. Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Naomi Osaka of Japan will be the defending champions.
Here are the five greatest stories to follow along:
Go to CNN.com/game to get information, features, and movies
Can Serena catch Court?
A six-time champion in New York knows what it takes to triumph on home soil. Having taken New York by storm 20 years back, when she beat Martina Hingis of Switzerland to acquire what would be the first of the Open-era record haul of 23 grand slam singles titles, Williams is pursuing history . The prior top-ranked American would be tied by victory in New York the Grand Slam singles record holder using 24 majors, by Australia’s Margaret Court.
Even the No. 8 Williams includes a tough draw this season, opening against former US Open champion Maria Sharapova in a blockbuster first round. Williams possesses a commanding 19-3 record over Russia’s former world No.1, who last defeat her in 2004. Roland-Garros winner Ash Barty looms in the quarterfinals, while the top-seeded Osaka could be her rival in the finals.
Even though the 37-year-old Williams has attained three major finals annually since coming back from maternity leave, she dropped short twice in Wimbledon, and at last year’s US Open, where a row using the umpire and Osaka got the better of her Earlier this month, having fought with a knee injury Williams retired against 19-year-old Canadian Bianca Andreescu closing in tears in the Toronto with back spasms. But if she is fully healthy, there is not any explanation as to.
READ: Naomi Osaka confronts CNN fire challenge
READ: Coco Gauff do you shield a 15-year-old?
Can Federer bounce back?
A day after having an epic Wimbledon last Federer went caravanning with his family. Having held two match points on serve in the final group, the Swiss said he had been”half-broken” in the four-hour, 57-minute game, but he went on the caravan break after his four children begged him to go. “I slept at a caravan the afternoon after my Wimbledon final,” Federer told the Tennis Channel earlier this month from Cincinnati. “This was a challenging first couple of steps down the ladder from the mattress. Plus it was a lousy night’s sleep. But the children needed to do it so badly, so we went.”
Despite suffering his quickest loss since 2003 where qualifier Andrey Rublev 6-3 6-4 beat him in only 62 minutes, Federer was concerned about his US Open campaign. “I played 45 games this year, so I think I must be OK,” Federer told reporters.
He has not won it although he won five straight US Open championships between 2008 and 2004. A runner-up to Djokovic in 2015, he hasn’t gone past the quarterfinals since then. Before this month, having turned 38, Federer will be eager to do better than when he dropped in the fourth round in conditions to Australia’s John Millman.
Federer, that starts against a qualifier, can face seed David Goffin in around four, followed closely closely by former finalist Kei Nishikori of Japan in the quarterfinals. Another showdown using Djokovic looms from the semifinals, after both men were drawn at the upper half of New York on Thursday.
READ: Why are smart phones holding back tennis’ next generation?
Would Djokovic get to knock No. 17?
As the winner of the past five personalities, who is currently going to stop defending winner Djokovic in New York? The 32-year-old is the strong favorite to win his fourth title at Flushing Meadows, followed by Spain’s Nadal at 4-1 and Federer at 13-2. Having defeated a partisan crowd plus Federer at Wimbledon, Djokovic is back on his surface that is successful. Another important win will move him to three supporting Federer, just one shy of Nadal, also 17 grand slam singles titles.
Djokovic begins his US Open pursuit against Roberto Carballes Baena of Spain, followed by a clash with 2016 winner Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland or finalist Kevin Anderson of South Africa in the fourth round.
The only player capable to block the top-seeded Djokovic is that the in-form Nadal, who won the title in Montreal earlier this month. When his season ended in the US Open semifinals with a retirement from Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina, Even the Spaniard is matched again after an 2018. He performs with his first game against Millman, while former winner Marin Cilic of Croatia is still a possible opponent.
READ: How a child from Belgrade overcome the odds
Will the”Next Gen” attack at last?
It’s a question that’s asked each time a major comes together: is the time the next creation will break the stranglehold of the”Big Three” from the men’s game? Nadal djokovic and Federer have won a 54 grand slam singles titles.
The most successful player of this so-called”Next Gen” in the majors is the 21-year-old Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, that attained his first major semi-final at this year’s Australian Open. Watch out for 23-year-old Daniil Medvedev, who reached three consecutive hardcourt finals winning the title. The Russian enters the Open with a Tour-leading 44 wins this year and might meet Djokovic in the quarterfinals. This season, the Serb has been beaten by him double.
Can we see the winner of a second surprise women?
The opposite is occurring in the women’s game, where 18 distinct players won the 18 titles of the year, while young players are struggling to break through in men’s tennis. Take Australia’s along with also Osaka Barty, that had gone past the fourth round of a major. While Barty triumphed at Roland-Garros osaka now holds the US Open and Australian Open titles. Following the magnificent Wimbledon triumph of Romania’s Simona Halep, that dominated name favorite Williams in straight sets, could we be in for another surprise winner at the usa Open?
With question marks over the fitness center of Williams and Osaka, who retired from the Cincinnati quarterfinals with a knee injury, may that be the year of Cincinnati winner and 2017 US Open finalist Madison Keys of the US, or even Toronto and also Indian Wells champion Andreescu? Or will 15-year-old American Cori”Coco” Gauff pull off another stunning streak after reaching the fourth round of Wimbledon?
She’s back on her favorite surface, Though Osaka has struggled in the majors since Australia. The top seed of the women may face Gauff in round three, and starts against Anna Blinkova of Russia. Although Andreescu is still a possible fourth-round opponent, halep opens against a qualifier.
Read more: betting odds of houston rockets