Bartoli’s US Open prediction: “I sincerely believe we’re going to have a shock in the men’s draw”

The absence of Novak Djokovic in the men’s draw for the US Open means many top players in the men’s draw will fancy their chances of pinching a slam title.

The Serb, missing because he’s not allowed into the United States due to his decision not to be vaccinated against Covid-19, won Wimbledon and would have been the favourite for the title.

With him gone, the path is relatively clear for a number of others, including Stefanos Tsitsipas, Carlos Alcaraz and Felix Auger-Aliassime, all of whom are still chasing that elusive first slam title.

And former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli said she feels it’s the most open US Open in well over a decade.

“It leaves a spot,” Bartoli said, in the latest episode of Match Points. “We saw it in Cincinnati, when Novak’s not there and Rafa’s struggling, it’s a lot more open than it has been on the ATP Tour in probably the last 15 years.”

Roger Federer is still off the Tour as he continues his recovery from knee surgery, while Alexander Zverev, who will become the new world No 2 on Monday, misses out with the ankle injury he suffered at Roland-Garros.

Bartoli said Nick Kyrgios, the runner-up at Wimbledon, could be one to come out of the pack, especially if he gets to play matches in the cooler night sessions. For me, he’s in his best position to do it,” she said. “If there’s one time he’s able to do it, it’s now.

But picking a winner, she said, was more difficult than usual.

“I sincerely believe we’re going to have a shock in the men’s draw,” she said. “I don’t think we’re going to have the usual, like, Daniil (Medvedev) or Rafa (Nadal). I think we’re going to have someone who sneaks out of the draw, takes his chance and go out and wins his first Grand Slam title.”

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