US Open stats preview: Roger Federer and Serena Williams chasing history

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  • The US Open commences on Monday with the top half of both the men’s and women’s draws in action, which means defending champions Rafael Nadal and Sloane Stephens will take to the court on opening day.

    Former winners Serena Williams, Stan Wawrinka, and Andy Murray will also play their opening rounds on Monday, while Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic kick off his campaigns on Tuesday.

    Known before 1968 as the US National Championships, the US Open is the second-oldest of the four Grand Slams after Wimbledon, and the only one to have been played each year since its inception in 1881.

    First held in 1887, the US Open women’s singles championship is being staged for the 132nd time.

    Here’s a look at some of the standout stats and figures ahead of the 2018 US Open.

  • Andy Murray and Juan Martin del Potro enter US Open with contrasting expectations

  • MEN’S EVENT

    0 – players in the Open Era have managed to win the US Open without dropping a set.

    3 – matches lost by top-seeded Rafael Nadal in 2018 — the same number he lost in 2013 entering the US Open. Nadal is 40-3 this season and was 53-3 at the start of the 2013 US Open, where he won his 13th Grand Slam title.

    6 – Roger Federer is targeting a sixth US Open title which would give him sole ownership of the top spot on the leaderboard of most trophies won here in the Open Era. He is currently in a three-way tie with Jimmy Connors and Pete Sampras with five.

    7 – former US Open champions present in the 2018 draw: Nadal (2010, 2013, 2017), Stan Wawrinka (2016), Novak Djokovic (2011, 2015), Marin Cilic (2014), Andy Murray (2012), Juan Martin del Potro (2009), Roger Federer (2004-08).

    9 – Former US Open junior champions in the draw: Felix Auger-Aliassime (2016), Taylor Fritz (2015), Borna Coric (2013), Jack Sock (2010), Grigor Dimitrov (2008), Ricardas Berankis (2007), Andy Murray (2004), Richard Gasquet (2002), Gilles Muller (2001).

    10 – years since Federer last won the US Open.

    11 – former college players in the draw

    13 – The ‘Big Four’ have dominated the top two spots in the world rankings for the past 13 years. That could change after the US Open with Juan Martin Del Potro and Alexander Zverev both having a chance to surpass Federer and become the new world No. 2.

    (via US Open preview notes)

    (via US Open preview notes)

    13 – months since the ‘Big Four’ all competed at the same tournament. Their last reunion was at Wimbledon 2017. They finally reunite again at this US Open.

    16 – NextGen (21-and-under) players in the draw: Hubert Hurkacz (21), Lloyd Harris (21), Alexander Zverev (21), Jaume Munar (21), Andrey Rublev (20), Taylor Fritz (20), Michael Mmoh (20), Frances Tiafoe (20), Ugo Humbert (20), Stefanos Tsitsipas (20), Casper Ruud (19), Alex de Minaur (19), Denis Shapovalov (19), Corentin Moutet (19), Felix Auger-Aliassime (18), Jenson Brooksby (17).

    37 – At 37 years of age, Federer is bidding to become the oldest US Open champion in the Open Era, and oldest US Open finalist since 1974.

    42 – 30-and-over players in the draw.

    WOMEN’S EVENT

    2 – players are seeded for the first time at a Grand Slam: Aryna Sabalenka (No. 26) and Maria Sakkari (No. 32).

    6 – players in the draw are undefeated in US Open first round matches: Venus Williams (19-0), Serena Williams (17-0), Patty Schnyder (14-0), Agnieszka Radwanska (12-0), Maria Sharapova (11-0) and Victoria Azarenka (10-0).

    7 – former US Open champions in the draw: Sloane Stephens (2017), Angelique Kerber (2016), Svetlana Kuznetsova (2004), Maria Sharapova (2006), Samantha Stosur (2011), Serena Williams (1999, 2002, 2008, 2012-14) and Venus Williams (2000, 2001).

    17 – In the Open Era, the reigning Wimbledon champion has gone on to win the US Open 17 times. Kerber would be the first player since Serena in 2012 to pull off that feat.

    (Coaches' records via WTA notes)

    (Coaches’ records via WTA notes)

    22 – There have been 22 successful women’s singles title defences at the US Open. Sloane Stephens will try to make that figure 23.

    24 – Serena Williams is chasing an all-time record 24th Grand Slam title which would equal Margaret Court’s tally.

    44 – Simona Halep will maintain her position as world No. 1 irrespective of her US Open result. It will take her total tally to 44 weeks at the summit, including this next fortnight.

    80 – Venus Williams is appearing in her Open Era record 80th Grand Slam main draw.

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