US Open 2020: Novak Djokovic plays down Federer, Nadal withdrawals as draw revealed

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has attempted to play down the 2020 US Open absences but the release of the draw has shown just how dire it is.

Second seed Dominic Thiem has lost three Grand Slam finals.

The US Open draw has been released but despite men’s World No. 1 Novak Djokovic playing down the absences, the missing players have left a massive hole.

As of writing, there were 14 of the top men’s players in the world and 27 women’s stars who have chosen to sit out the first Grand Slam of the COVID-19 era.

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Australian world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty, former US Open champion Sam Stosur, World No. 40 Nick Kyrgios and rising star Alexei Popyrin are the big outs for Australia, with world No. 26 Alex de Minaur the only seeded Aussie in either draw.

But the big outs in the mens draw have dominated the discussion with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer officially out.

Since 2004, there have been only seven different champions in the US Open, with Federer winning five, Nadal four and Djokovic three, while Juan Martin del Potro, Andy Murray, Marin Cilic and Stan Wawrinka have each won one.

Only Djokovic, Cilic and Murray are playing in the 2020 edition of the tournament.

Only a big one in 2020.

Djokovic has been on the offence since coming down with COVID-19 at the Adria Tour exhibition tournament he organised to raise money for charity, with the 17-time Grand Slam winner heavily criticised for his action.

But speaking ahead of the Western and Southern Open tournament before the US Open, Djokovic played down the absences.

“It‘s bound to be weird that Federer and Nadal aren’t here …” Djokovic said.

“They will be missed, no doubt, because they are legends of our sport. But apart from Federer, Nadal and Wawrinka, all the best players are there.

“It would be disrespectful to all the other players to say that I have a better chance without Roger and Rafa. (Dominic) Thiem, (Alexander) Zverev, (Stefanos) Tsitsipas, (Daniil) Medvedev, these guys are as strong as the three of us.

“Anyone can win, even more after six months without the tour. We don‘t really know how we’re going to feel on the court.”

But none of the top ten seeds have won a Grand Slam title — other than Djokovic.

Djokovic has already been heavily criticised for his actions ahead of the US Open, opting to rent a house rather than stay in the USTA bubble for the tournament.

However, on the women’s side of the draw, defending champion Bianca Andreescu is out of the tournament but the seedings have been skewered by the absence of six of the top 10 players in the world.

Serena Williams is on the hunt for her 24th Grand Slam title.

It sees 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams, who is ranked ninth in the world, seeded three for the tournament, while world No. 46 Rebecca Peterson from Sweden is the 32nd and final seeded player in the women’s draw.

In the mens, world No. 38 Adrian Mannarino is the 32nd seed.

See the full draw here.

THE AUSSIES

De Minaur will face a tough draw with big servers Ivo Karlovic and Milos Raonic in his side of the draw. He could also face number 11 seed Karen Khachanov as early as round three.

He will be joined by John Millman, who is facing number 22-seed Nikoloz Basilashvili as well as Jordan Thompason, James Duckworth, Marc Polmans and Chris O’Connell.

The Aussie women are facing a tougher prospect with three of the four players facing seeded players in the first round.

Ajla Tomljanovic, the world number 57, is the highest ranked Aussie woman in the draw, and will face 17-seed and three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber.

Alex de Minaur will have to lead the way for Australia.

AUSSIE’S FIRST ROUND US OPEN DRAW

Men‘s singles

21-Alex de Minaur v Andrej Martin (SVK)

John Millman v 22-Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO)

Jordan Thompson v Stefano Travaglia (ITA)

James Duckworth v Salvatore Caruso (ITA)

Marc Polmans v Marcos Giron (USA)

Chris O‘Connell v Laslo Djere (SRB)

Women‘s singles

Ajla Tomljanovic v 17-Angelique Kerber (GER)

Astra Sharma v 19-Dayana Yastremska (UKR)

Lizette Cabrera v Danka Kovinic (MNE)

Maddison Inglis v 24-Magda Linette (POL)