Ultimate Guide to the 2016 US Open: Players to watch, Aussies in action, broadcast times, odds

BEFORE the action gets under way in Flushing Meadows, New York, check out everything you need to know about the 2016 US Open.

Ultimate Guide to the US Open.

BEFORE the action gets under way in Flushing Meadows, New York, check out everything you need to know about the 2016 US Open.

WHERE IS IT?

The 136th edition of the US Open will be held at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre, Flushing Meadows, New York, USA.

WHEN IS IT?

Monday August 29 — Sunday September 11, 2016 (US time).

Tuesday August 30 — Monday September 12, 2016 (Australian time).

PRIZEMONEY

The total purse for the tournament is $US46,300,000.

Singles Champions — $US3,500,000.

Doubles Champions — $US625,000.

Mixed Doubles Champions — $US150,000.

HOW TO WATCH

Fox Sports will be the only place to see the drama and the glory unfold, with LIVE and EXCLUSIVE coverage of all days of the competition, including both the women’s and men’s finals. The on-court action launches at 1.00am (AEST) on Tuesday, with all the big matches replayed throughout the day delivering around-the-clock coverage.

Foxsports.com.au will also live stream selected matches throughout the tournament.

Get your 2-week FOXTEL PLAY trial and watch the whole tournament for free! SIGN UP NOW

WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR

Men’s Singles Champion — Novak Djokovic def. Roger Federer.

Women’s Singles Champion — Flavia Pennetta def. Roberta Vinci.

Men’s Doubles Champions — Pierre-Hugues Herbert/Nicolas Mahut def. Jamie Murray/John Peers

Women’s Doubles Champions — Martina Hingis/Sania Mirza def. Casey Dellacqua/Yaroslava Shvedova

Mixed Doubles Champions — Martina Hingis/Leander Paes def. Bethanie Mattek-Sands/Sam Querrey

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Novak Djokovic — As the defending champion, all the pressure is on the Serb to defend his title. It hasn’t been easy for Djokovic lately though. He lost to Del Potro in the first round at the Rio Olympics and at Wimbledon crashed out in the third round. Djokovic will be out to ‘stop the rot’ and make a charge towards back-to-back US Open victories.

Andy Murray — The fiery Scot enters the tournament in superb form, coming off a gold-medal win in Rio. He’s the second seed but with his arch rival Djokovic stumbling in recent tournaments in the lead up, and Roger Federer out of action, the trophy is certainly there for the taking for Murray.

Juan Martin Del Potro — Del Potro might have fallen just short of a miraculous gold medal victory at the Rio Games, but the Argentine has shown plenty of quality of late and should be a genuine contender for the title in New York.

Angelique Kerber — There’s a lot on the line for the German, and it’s not just silverware. Should Kerber progress to the quarterfinals and Serena Williams fails to do so, she will take the world no.1 ranking from the American.

Milos Raonic — Having had a taste of a grand slam final after going down to Murray at Wimbledon, big things will be expected from the Canadian. If he can get through the early rounds with ease and hit the finals with plenty in the tank, Raonic stands to go deep in the tournament.

Serena Williams — Williams is out to claim her seventh US Open title, overtake Steffi Graf’s record of 22 grand slam titles in the open era, and lock down her place as the top ranked women’s player. However her form hasn’t been convincing lately, notably being knocked out of the Rio Games in the third round earlier this month.

Nick Kyrgios — Another grand slam is another opportunity for Kyrgios to impress on the biggest stage, something the Aussie definitely relishes. At the US Open he hasn’t been past the third round though, and last year was bundled out in the first, so in the last major of the year Kyrgios will want to finish on a high. Victory in Atlanta recently will give him confidence going into the first round.

AUSSIES IN ACTION

Nick Kyrgios

Bernard Tomic

James Duckworth

Sam Stosur

Ellen Perez

John Millman

Jordan Thompson

Daria Gavrilova

BIG OMISSIONS

Roger Federer — The Swiss Maestro is still recovering from knee surgery and will miss the US Open as a result. He is replaced on the draw by flamboyant German, Dustin Brown.

Tomas Berdych — Czech Republic’s Berdych will end his run of 52-straight grand slam appearances after he withdrew from the US Open with appendicitis. Slovakian Lukas Lacko takes his place in the draw.

Flavia Pennetta — The Italian upset compatriot Roberta Vinci in the final last year, but having retired from tennis following that season, she won’t be back to defend her title in 2016.

Thanasi Kokkinakis — Young gun Kokkinakis had just returned to the court recently after shoulder surgery put a dent in his season last year, but now the Aussie is set to miss the US Open having pulled a pectoral muscle in training.

Victoria Azarenka — The Belarusian announced her pregnancy meaning the two-time US Open finalist will miss the tournament expecting her first child.

THE MARKET

Men’s Singles

Novak Djokovic — 2-1

Andy Murray — 3-1

Milos Raonic — 17-1

Juan Martin Del Potro — 21-1

Stan Wawrinka — 21-1

Rafael Nadal — 26-1

Kei Nishikori — 26-1

Nick Kyrgios — 51-1

Women’s Singles

Serena Williams — 2-1

Garbine Muguruza — 7-1

Angelique Kerber — 7-1

Simona Halep — 8-1

Petra Kvitova — 15-1

Madison Keys — 15-1

Carolina Wozniacki — 80-1

Sam Stosur — 101-1

Originally published as Ultimate Guide to the 2016 US Open: Players to watch, Aussies in action, broadcast times, odds