LAST, BUT NOT THE LEAST

The US Open begins at the picturesque Flushing Meadows today with a number of contenders vying for the coveted trophy. With Puerto Rican Monica Puig having captured gold in Rio to prove that anyone can win, it will be hard to predict a winner. So, here are some of the big names that will be present in this year's edition.

ANDY MURRAY

SEED: 2

It took Andy Murray 4 hours in the Olympic final, but in the end he became the first person to retain the singles gold medal. Preceding that was another hard-fought win in Wimbledon. However, Murray's disproportionate hours on the court will definitely take a toll on the Brit, who looked hassled as he lost in the Cincinnati Masters tournament to Marin Cilic in August.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC

SEED: 1

With a win at the French Open seeing the Serb hold all four grand slam titles at the same time, 2016 seemed the perfect setting for Djokovic. He followed that up with a win at Rolland Garros, but since then has had a torrid time, admitting he is not 100 fully fit. He lost in the third round at Wimbledon and made a first round exit at Rio, so he will be hoping to return to form here.

RAFAEL NADAL

SEED: 4

Rafael Nadal has not had an easy 2016. He was forced to withdraw from the French Open after reaching the quarterfinals owing to a wrist injury. That same injury would then force the Spaniard out of Wimbledon. He has been far from his best for a long while and at the Rio Olympics he finished fourth after losing the bronze medal match to Kei Nishikori.

MARIN CILIC

SEED: 7

The 27-year-old won his first Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati in August and re-entered the top 10 with a straight-sets victory over Murray. Cilic is seeded seventh and his rising level of play suggests that he could be rounding into the kind of form that led him to the title in 2014. Cilic worked on his forehand and return with a new coach. And against Murray he returned well but his forehand remains suspect.

MARTIN DEL POTRO

UNSEEDED

Since his stunning victory over Roger Federer in the 2009 US Open final, del Potro has been sidelined by injuries to both wrists. The Argentine rejoined the tour full time this year and has improved his conditioning, culminating at the Olympics, where he beat Djokovic in the first round and Nadal in the semifinals before narrowly losing gold. He will be hoping to go one better at Flushing Meadows.

SERENA WILLIAMS

SEED: 1

With the home crowd behind her, Serena will be looking to put the misery of the Olympics behind her. Serena faced a shock exit from the Rio Olympics in the third round. And with only a Wimbledon win this season, Serena’s struggles have been evident. However, she will hope to add another trophy at home and surpass Steffi Graf's Open Era record of 22 Grand Slam singles titles.

ANGELIQUE KERBER

SEED: 2

Kerber started the year phenomenally, winning the Australian Open by defeating Serena in the final. That was diminished as she crashed out of the French Open in the first round. However, she bounced back and made it all the way to the Wimbledon final, where Serena avenged her loss. The 28-year-old is coming off a silver in Rio and will be hoping that her glorious year continues.

SIMONA HALEP

SEED: 5

Halep was stunned in the first round at the Australian Open where she was seeded second. That, she said, was due to a nose injury for which she underwent surgery. She came back strong but again fell short at the grand slam stage , exiting the French Open in the round of 16 and Wimbledon in the quarters. She then pulled out of Rio and will hope to come back strong at Flushing Meadows. 

Facts

STARTED

1881

EDITION

136th

LOCATION

Flushing Meadows, NY 

VENUE

Billie Jean King National Tennis Center

TOTAL PRIZE MONEY    

$ 46,300,000

CURRENT CHAMPIONS    

Novak Djokovic 

Flavia Pennetta