Brad Gilbert:If Novak Djokovic is 100% healthy, on this surface,he’s a huge favourite

Brad Gilbert, former player, tennis coach and known to be among the best readers of the sport, says World No. 1 Novak Djokovic will be a huge favourite at the US Open in New York later this month if he is 100 percent healthy.

Gilbert on Novak Djokovic and other players coming into the American hardcourt events

With Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer both skipping the Western & Southern Open and the US Open in New York, Djokovic will be among the big favourites at both the events. The Serbian player has a chance to tie Rafael Nadal's record of 35 Masters 1000 titles at the Western & Southern Open, and also close the gap on his rivals in the race for most number of Grand Slam singles titles.

Speaking to the ATP Tour website, Gilbert says, "There are a lot of unknowns, but if he is 100 per cent healthy, on this surface, he’s a huge favourite."

During his career, Gilbert won 20 singles titles and also won the bronze medal at the 1988 Olympics. After retiring, he has coaches several players including Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Andy Murray, and Kei Nishikori.

The former World No. 4 also says that with the tour resuming after so many months, one can expect surprise results and one can expect quite a few surprised. "It’s a little bit like the NCAA Tournament in basketball. You might get somebody who is a really low seed to make the semi-finals or a deep run. I just have a feeling that without a crowd, without a couple guys who are always there not being there, the opportunity is there. I do think we’re going to see some crazy results. But let’s say even if the Big Three was playing after all this time, I just don’t think that after something like this you’d expect it to be business as normal… I do think somebody’s going to make a semi or final who is going to be a real surprise. I do think the biggest surprise is going to be somebody who maybe you don’t think about and doesn’t play that well on a big stadium or a big crowd.”

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic is already in New York and has been spotted practising on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court. Djokovic will be aiming to win his 18th Grand Slam title in New York. Roger Federer leads the race for most number of Grand Slams with 20 Grand Slam titles, followed by Rafael Nadal with 19 Grand Slams.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2Q97Bg7